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Re:A new form of brain stimulation relieved severe depressio... by Roritharr on Tuesday April 07, 2020 @10:21AM (#22803435)
This. It sounds like this should be the FIRST thing to try, rather than the last. Sadly this is not very likely how it is going to be for a very long time.
Re:A new form of brain stimulation relieved severe depressio... by skat20phys on Tuesday April 07, 2020 @10:54AM (#22803757)
The protocol is actually fairly intensive and expensive, involving tailored brain scans and all-day treatments over multiple days. It's the sort of thing that I could see in inpatients or partial hospitalization patients, or as an intensive outpatient protocol. You'd basically have to take off a week and go in every day all day.

This is promising but it's not randomized or controlled so hard to make anything of at some level (you can see how this kind of protocol would induce massive placebo effects).

If there is an effect, it may be that some kind of mild version of it, say, for a day or half-day or something might be useful in more mild forms of depression. But it's an intensive expensive treatment in its own way so might be hard to implement as an initial intervention.

But I agree that if it works this well it might be worth it to take a week off or a couple of days or something.

Re:A new form of brain stimulation relieved severe depressio... by ChrisClark on Tuesday April 07, 2020 @10:28AM (#22803498)
This is very similar to electro shock treatment. Causing localised seizures.

I don't really think this should be the first thing to try.

Re:A new form of brain stimulation relieved severe depressio... by trts on Tuesday April 07, 2020 @11:16AM (#22803967)
The point of ECT is to cause a seizure. The point of TMS is to achieve the same effect without causing a seizure, though there is some risk of that.
Re:A new form of brain stimulation relieved severe depressio... by whatshisface on Tuesday April 07, 2020 @10:44AM (#22803640)
It certainly sounds dangerous, but we really ought to wait for the phase 1 trial before proclaiming that it's dangerous for sure.