Posted by Eric on January 9, 2000, at 13:17:38
In reply to Re: New ECT-type thing? - rTMS, posted by Scott L. Schofield on January 6, 2000, at 11:17:09
> The proper abbreviation for this treatment is rTMS – repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. I know only a tiny bit about it. It has been used with some success in pilot studies, but I haven’t followed up on whether or not large clinical trials have begun.
>
> In a similar fashion to ECT, two magnetic stimulation pads are placed on the forehead separated by some distance. The placement of the pads between the left temporal lobe and the frontal cortex seems to be the focus of the investigations. When activated, a very strong magnetic field is created between them. The field is actually turned on and off repeatedly – thus the “r” for repetitive. One of the objects of the studies is to find the optimal frequency of this on-off cycle to induce an antidepressant effect. (I don’t know if it is being studied for any other indication – mania for instance). It is not necessary to induce convulsions for rTMS to have its therapeutic effect.
>Hi there. I had rTMS and I was even in the trials at MUSC at Charleston, SC. In fact, Dr. Mark George personally did some of my rTMS. A mult-faceted physician and researcher, the man is board certified in both psychiatry and neurology plus on top of that he is a radiologist! Is your psychiatrist all of that? Doubt it LOL.
Dr. George not only does research in rTMS but he was also one of the main pioneers of the VNS or "vagal nerve stimulation" project for refractory depression. In fact if I am not mistaken, the very first VNS implant for the purposes of treating refractory depression was done at MUSC at Charleston about a year and a half ago...I dont know exactly when. It was very recent however.
Scott, unless you know something I dont, some of the things you said about rTMS was incorrect. When I had my rTMS sessions they did not place two stimulation pads on my forehead...they only placed one pad and they arent really pads they are more like a chunk of metal a couple inches thick and wide. They place a big, lunky chunk of metal on the left side of your forehead and fire magentic bursts into your left "prefrontal cortex." It is not like there are magnetic impulses going between two pads placed on your forehead as you described. The magnetic impulses you describe in fact are more like "bursts" and they are fired directly into your left forehead. Like a magnet gun. It hurts a little, feels like a woodpecker pecking on your head...makes your eyes water some. Some anxiety from fear of the unknown but nothing bad. But overall it is not sh** and I found that there were no side effects really. The treatments I thought were actually fun.
They are also doing rTMS for bipolar. From what I have been told for bipolar they place the magnet stimulator on the right side of your forehead instead of left. For unipolar major depression placement is left side, for bipolar placement is right side.
poster:Eric
thread:17934
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000101/msgs/18478.html