rTMS Archives - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation vs. ECT for Depression

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Apr 11, 2016

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an option for depression treatment and may be an alternative, for some, to electroconvulsive therapy. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (when used as a treatment for depression known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or rTMS) is actually similar to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in that it’s also a neuromodulation technique. It does differ, though, as rTMS is much less invasive and has a very favorable side effect profile, particularly when compared to ECT. There are reasons that people aren’t flocking to rTMS as a depression treatment, though.

New Treatment Approaches for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jun 6, 2012

I have been known to lament that there’s nothing new under the sun when it comes to depression treatment, and thus, there is little hope for people with true treatment-resistant depression. (And by treatment-resistant depression I mean people who really have tried everything, and there are few in this category.)

But I forget how far we’ve come and how fast. It isn’t fair to say there aren’t new approaches to treatment-resistant depression because there are new approaches being researched and approved every year. Here are a few noted by Current Psychiatry article Innovative approaches to treatment-resistant depression:

Free rTMS, Brain Changes in Depressed Females, Why Anti-Benzodiazepine? – 3 New Things

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 29, 2011

Last week I didn’t post three new things but don’t take that to mean I wasn’t learning because I certain was, and always am. For this week I have these three new pieces of information to share:

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment for depression to be free for (some) Canadians
Brain changes are noted in depressed females
Why are some doctors anti-benzodiazepine?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation May Cause Improvements in Memory

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jun 26, 2009

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation May Cause Improvements in Memory – Psychiatric TimesNow, understand that depression impinges on memory function and the correlation below may not be the rTMS improving memory per se but...

More on rTMS and VNS and MRI

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 18, 2009

I frequent poster, Herb, has introduced more information on the rTMS with VNS topic. Some doctors are saying it is possible. Additionally, if you read the whole thread, someone corrects me and notes that MRIs are possible with a...