Former family doctor Sue Mildred suffered from severe depression and anxiety for 20 years, 15 of which she could not even work. By the age of 51, Sue had tried antidepressants, various therapies, including electroconvulsive therapy, during which an electric current is passed through the brain.
This treatment provided little relief, but due to the fact that the woman began to have memory problems, it had to be stopped. Over time, Sue began to have thoughts that her condition would never improve. However, thanks to new way of treatment – transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS – The woman's condition improved after a few years. This method consists in stimulating certain areas of the brain using an electromagnetic field.
According to brain scans, transcranial magnetic stimulation can lead to changes in the brain's "wiring". In cases of depression, doctors target the magnet to the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision making, mood, and emotional responses.
Scientists say that this treatment has improved the condition of patients suffering from major depression, who were not affected by other treatments, including antidepressants.
RTMS is currently being tested in the context of treating anorexia. As a rule, patients undergo a combined course of treatment with antidepressants and talk therapy. In the US, this method is already being used, however, at the National Institute & nbsp; Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK state the need for further research.
Dr Jane Morris, a psychiatrist at the Royal Corndill Clinic in Aberdeen, who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, states: side effects of such therapy are not yet known.
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