The significance of these findings lies in the potential benefit for patients who have not achieved desired results with other treatments. Sabrina Segal, Ph.D., the Director of Research at Family Care Center and the lead researcher of the study, emphasized the substantial reduction in patient symptoms achieved through their TMS protocol, which also demonstrated minimal side effects.
Current treatment options such as psychotherapy or medication only lead to full recovery or remission in 30-50% of patients. Furthermore, medications can sometimes cause unwanted side effects, ranging from weight gain to sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, worsen depression symptoms.
Patients who have unsuccessfully tried multiple therapies, particularly those with major depressive disorder, are often labeled as treatment-resistant. This disorder is so prevalent that it is considered the leading cause of disability worldwide by the World Health Organization.
Dr. Segal highlighted the urgent need for more effective treatment options, stating that depression is a global epidemic. This is where TMS can make a significant impact. During the trial, over three dozen patients underwent TMS targeting a specific region in the front left portion of the brain. Although TMS is already FDA-approved for major depressive disorder, it has previously shown meaningful symptom reduction in only 29% of patients.
The researchers took a step further in refining the TMS technique, resulting in substantial improvements for patients with hard-to-treat depression.
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