Brain Stimulation Can Give Relief In Depression

Latest research has shown that people whose depression makes them lose energy or strength, keeping the brain stimulated is the best relief that they can find. Reports of the study said that this might be one of the best alternatives or an extra treatment in severe cases of mood disorder. Depression is a serious mental illness for which drugs and counseling are the regular modes of treatment. However, not all patients can take the strenuous medicine or the pressure of counseling sessions and often suffer from side effects.

Non-surgical procedures such as brain stimulation methods can be used through magnetic fields or electric currents which can change the activity inside brain. Medical experts back this technique up, but researchers feel that these ways are either used at quite late or in little doses. Hence, their effectiveness is restricted. The results of a study were released on March 27, 2019. There were 6700 patients with the average age of 48 suffering from bipolar depression and major form of depression. They were given sham therapy or brain stimulation. Sham therapy proved less effective compared to transcranial direct current stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, and magnetic seizure therapy – all under the umbrella term of brain stimulation.

Dr. Bryan Bruno from Lenox Hill Hospital located in New York City said that although the long term effects of these treatments are not yet known, but since they are quite effective, they should be considered as options rather than just discarding them. Transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS is really secure and patients can take the procedure quite well. It is being thought that the procedure helps in changing certain activity within the brain that had either been overactive or underactive due to depression. Researchers are not yet sure regarding how brain stimulation can be helpful in treating depression