In a recent study conducted by Stanford Medicine Researchers of 21 study participants, a new form of magnetic brain stimulation relieved symptoms of severe depression in 90% of participants. They use a TMS treatment called Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) which is approved by the FDA and improves current FDA-approved protocols by increasing the number of magnetic pulses, speeding up the pace of the treatments, and targetting the pulses to each individual's neurocircuitry.
The treatment works by sending magnetic pulses to replicate the way the brain communicates with itself. The researchers locate a specific spot in an individuals brain and targets that area for stimulation. The mangetic stimulations will try to up-regulate the activity at the site that is underactive in depression at the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) to restore normal activity thus relieving the depressive symptoms.
The head researcher, Dr Nolan Williams, stated that SAINT, could be something that hospitals could use as a fast acting antidepressant to stabilize suicidal patients who may, after weeks of intensive treatments, leave the hospital feeling safe.
Individuals who complete the entire series of treatment reported having a strong desire to get their life together. They also reported not procrastinating anymore, sleeping better, quitting alcohol, walking their dogs, and finding interests in their hobbies again for nothing more than the sheer joy of it.
For more information on TMS and the efficacy click here.
To read more about the testimonials and about the Stanford experiment, click here.
