Innovative Depression Treatments Many people with depression have a difficult time finding the right treatment for them Some people experience a lack response to medication or have inexplicably negative side effects Table 2 shows that intrinsic health benefits of a more effective coverage are substantial The discounted value of these benefits is 399 billion for depression and 169 billion for anxiety disorders Transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS TMS utilizes a magnetic field to deliver brief bursts of electrical current to specific brain regions that are to be overactive in those suffering from depression The treatment is non-invasive and does not require anesthesia It is also extremely effective and well-tolerated compared to antidepressant medications To treat TMS the patient is seated in a chair reminiscent of a dentist and remains awake A trained technician puts an instrument with a magnetic coil against the front of the head The coil pulses quickly and one may hear a sound of clicking or feel tapping sensations on the scalp Each magnetic pulse measured in hertz or Hz is called a “pulseor pulse The frequency of pulses can range from low 1 pulse every second to high 10 per second The treatment is not painful however the magnetic field does affect the cells in the outer layer It depolarizes cortical neurons, and the subsequent transynaptic effects can affect deeper regions of the brain that are involved in mood For instance, TMS with higher frequencies over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex DLPFC can increase mesolimbic neurocircuits that modulate emotional responses Certain insurance plans provide TMS as an alternative to psychiatric medications It's important to check with your insurance provider to find out what benefits your specific plan covers In clinical trials, TMS showed significant and long-lasting improvements in depression symptoms when compared with a placebo In a TMS treatment program, a patient may undergo up to 30 sessions over the course of a few weeks Patients with severe depression might require a more prolonged course of treatment Some of the newest TMS treatments use low-frequency pulses, which is less likely to trigger side effects like seizures While the procedure is still being considered a research project however, it's a promising option for people who don't respond to antidepressants and psychotherapy Electroconvulsive Therapy ECT ECT aids in restoring the brain's natural chemical balance It is one of most efficient and safe treatments for depression It can also be used in other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia The ECT procedure takes place in a hospital or an outpatient treatment center It is carried out by medical professionals Prior to the procedure, a general anaesthetic will be administered to ensure that there is no discomfort The ECT team will use monitoring equipment to gauge your heart rate, blood-pressure, oxygen levels, and brain waves You will be provided with a muscle relaxant to keep you relaxed and a mouthguard to guard your teeth Two metal discs are placed on the head, one each side or on your forehead The anaesthetist then injects you with a medication to help you sleep You will awake in the ECT room and a member of the ECT team will talk to you and answer any questions you might have You will be asked to complete a consent form prior to you receive the treatment It is recommended to bring a friend or a relative present while you are learning about ECT because it could be difficult to absorb all the information at once You should be given at least 24 hours before being forced to make a decision regarding the treatment During the procedure, you may suffer brief seizures or fits lasting between 40 seconds to 2 minutes The ECT doctor will adjust the intensity of your electric pulses based on the way you react It is likely that you will have short courses of ECT, usually 6-12 sessions twice per week There isn't a single theory of how ECT works however, it does cause the release of certain chemicals that aid your brain cells communicate with one other It also appears to change how brain cells grow ECT is very effective in treating severe depression, suicidal thoughts as well as catatonia due to depression, and other mental health disorders Research shows that about half of patients who receive ECT improve and remain healthy for an entire year or longer It is especially beneficial for those who have not had a positive response to medication or other psychosocial treatments Deep brain stimulation DBS Deep brain stimulation is a surgical method that involves implantation of electrodes into the brain The electrodes are attached to tiny devices that send electric impulses into the region of your brain which controls symptoms The electrical pulses can help alleviate your symptoms and enhance your quality of life DBS can treat a range of ailments which include movement disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson's disease, and psychiatric conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder and depression It can also reduce seizures in epilepsy sufferers It is also able to treat the severe pain that comes from nerve and brain conditions DBS is an option to be used in conjunction with ECT or other treatments for TRD https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/depression-treatment is important to note that not all patients will benefit from DBS Certain patients may not see any improvement in their symptoms, while others may be experiencing worsening depression This is likely due to a combination of factors, including factors related to the patient, such as personality traits or psychiatric comorbidity, and clinical factors, such as an inaccurate diagnosis or poor DBS targeting Researchers used an algorithm that uses machine learning to classify changes in LFPs that were measured during intraoperative DBS exposure The results indicated that the reduction in depression symptoms was associated with changes in beta power These findings suggest that DBS can be used to predict antidepressant effects However further research is required to confirm this theory DBS is a well-known treatment for movement disorders and it is also being used to treat an increasing number of psychiatric problems However, it's not widely recognized as a treatment for depression The FDA has approved DBS to reduce seizures in people suffering from hard-to-treat epilepsy, and studies are in progress to determine if DBS can be used to treat depression It is recommended to discuss the DBS procedure with a neurologist before you undergo it The neurologist will assess you and recommend the best treatment option for you He or she will also advise you of the potential risks and benefits of DBS It is also important to inquire about any preparations or tests you might require prior to the procedure You may require a blood-test, imaging and other tests prior to the procedure Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT Cognitive behavioral therapy has been proven to be effective by numerous outcome studies It is usually employed as a stand-alone treatment, but it can be combined with medication in certain instances CBT is a type of psychotherapy that helps you develop a positive attitude towards the negative attitudes and thoughts that are contributing to your depression It is based on the notion that the way you see and react to situations is more important than the situation itself It is a highly active type of psychotherapy and emphasizes problem-solving and identifying and changing maladaptive thinking patterns The goal of CBT is to assist you in becoming your own therapy by helping you understand and change the ways you think and behave It uses exercises and home sessions and outside of sessions to teach new techniques CBT is focused on current issues and challenges and not past experiences or root causes However, it requires some information about your past to comprehend and tackle issues in the here and now CBT is a fairly short-term therapy that typically lasts 6-20 sessions It is an empirically based therapy and its duration is determined by the extent to which you achieve the goals that were set at the start of the therapy It is an active therapy and requires a lot of commitment and effort on your part There are a variety of other types of cognitive behavioral therapies that may be useful for you, including acceptance and commitment therapy, which helps you to engage in positive behaviors even when you have negative thoughts or emotions as well as dialectical behavior therapy, that is designed to deal with self-injury and suicidal thinking and interpersonal psychotherapy, which aims to resolve relationship problems that are contributing to depression There are a variety of exciting new treatments that could be game-changing to people with depression Certain treatments are already available, such as deep brain stimulation, which involves surgeons implant electrodes in your brain that send harmless zaps to alter the electrical activity causing your symptoms However, many other advancements are still in the development phase like personalized medication for depression that could eventually eliminate the trial-and-error process of determining what works best for you