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Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

med.stanford.edu

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Re: Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

#51
post #4

> “The treatment, known as Stanford accelerated intelligent neuromodulation therapy (SAINT) or simply Stanford neuromodulation therapy, is an intensive, individualized form of transcranial magnetic stimulation. In the study, remission typically occurred within days and lasted months. The only side effects were temporary fatigue and headaches.” > “Twenty-nine people with treatment-resistant depression participated in…

Within four weeks after treatment, 12 of the 14 participants who had received the treatment improved, and 11 of them met FDA criteria for remission. In contrast, only two of the 15 participants who had received the placebo met the criteria for remission From the article further on.

Considering we are chemical based, I wonder how of it is the serotonin receptors are plugged with LSD, an effect similar to SSRI's. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/27/health/lsd-overdoses-case...

But what about other chemicals, Glycine contributes to an increase in 5alpha Reductase which helps reduce Cortisol one of the stress hormones. It can be used in place of sugar in hot beverages and food, how much does stress contribute to depression? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5%CE%B1-Reductase#List_of_conv...

And then there is Glutathione which increases light sensitivity, could this help reduce Seasonally Affect Disorder (SAD) also known as the winter blues, knowing that it also helps management of ROS, peroxides, lipid peroxides and heavy metals? Glutamine, N-Acetyl Cysteine and Glycine help to increase Glutathione in the body.

I wonder if fMRI has a similar effect on the brain to homogenising milk, namely it softens the fat walls in milk. Is fMRI having an effect in the brain or in the vascular system with plaques that contribute to atherosclerosis, because induction hobs or magnetic induction reduces inflammation https://peerj.com/articles/929.pdf does this demonstrate that depression is caused by a variety of factors not just one's linked to serotonin even though serotonin plays a part with the immune system?

Re: Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

#52
post #36
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Magnetic therapy makes me feel sick to my stomach for reasons that have for long been unknown to me. I'm more comfortable with the idea of undergoing electroconvulsive therapy than something that involves magnets. I'm not sure why it bothers me so much, but it does to an unusual degree.

Human emotional responses to wireless technology, even before the invention of said technology, are very interesting. Check out the wiki page for James Tilly Matthews.

Yikes, hope I'm not a hatter like this dude. Thanks for sharing, lead me to discover the Travels Through Time podcast and listened to this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7GdAHr7ZHU

Re: Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

#53

weird how people can often become depressed due to actual real-world experiences like grief or loneliness, but slap a magnet on em and they can go into remission. Makes you wonder whether they'll go into remission for a while and then slip back into depression if the environmental factors are still there. I guess if it can knock you out of a depression where the trigger is no longer present but the trauma persists, t…

Depression can be acute or chronic but everything about what you think or feel is still just chemistry and chemistry is just physics. It's a bit surprising it can be treated with such a blunt instrument as external magnets but then again we use electroshock with some success.

Re: Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

#56
post #11
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Within four weeks after treatment, 12 of the 14 participants who had received the treatment improved, and 11 of them met FDA criteria for remission. In contrast, only two of the 15 participants who had received the placebo met the criteria for remission From the article further on.

The two mentioned in the article met the FDA definition of remission. It doesn’t say, how many improved in general. This is important specifically since the sample size of the trial is small.

It's the important & useful of the two endpoints they measured. Anything will have a positive effect on depression if it comes with a lot of high-tech vodoo and people in lab coats. Only it won't last and it will the "yeah, I guess I'm feeling better"-level of improvement.

Re: Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

#57
“I don’t procrastinate anymore,” he added. “I’m sleeping better. I completely quit alcohol. I’m walking my dog and playing the guitar again, for nothing more than the sheer joy of it.” Most importantly, he said, “I’m remaining positive and being respectful of others. These are big changes in my life.”

Serious question: are these typical signs of depression? Now I'm wondering if I have depression.

Re: Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

#58
post #57

“I don’t procrastinate anymore,” he added. “I’m sleeping better. I completely quit alcohol. I’m walking my dog and playing the guitar again, for nothing more than the sheer joy of it.” Most importantly, he said, “I’m remaining positive and being respectful of others. These are big changes in my life.” Serious question: are these typical signs of depression? Now I'm wondering if I have depression.

Yes, they can be. Self-diagnosing isn't a great idea; lots of non-depressed people have some symptoms of depression. It would probably be a good idea to find someone to talk with though.

Re: Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

#59
post #57

“I don’t procrastinate anymore,” he added. “I’m sleeping better. I completely quit alcohol. I’m walking my dog and playing the guitar again, for nothing more than the sheer joy of it.” Most importantly, he said, “I’m remaining positive and being respectful of others. These are big changes in my life.” Serious question: are these typical signs of depression? Now I'm wondering if I have depression.

Anecdotally, the lack of those things are definitely present in myself when I'm experiencing a depressive episode (I am diagnosed with clinical depression): I sleep badly, either not at all or for 12-18 hours a day, I drink far too much, I do not leave my house, and my hobbies either fall by the wayside entirely or I partake in them with no enjoyment or happiness from it.

If you're experiencing those, it might be worth talking to a psychologist or your doctor (to get a referral): you don't have to tough it out. But people who don't have clinical depression also have those issues too, which is why the diagnostic criteria is a little more involved.

For me, a short 3-4 month course of a particular SSRI lets me beat back the worst of it, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy keeps it at bay. I haven't had an episode in years now

Re: Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study

#60
post #57

“I don’t procrastinate anymore,” he added. “I’m sleeping better. I completely quit alcohol. I’m walking my dog and playing the guitar again, for nothing more than the sheer joy of it.” Most importantly, he said, “I’m remaining positive and being respectful of others. These are big changes in my life.” Serious question: are these typical signs of depression? Now I'm wondering if I have depression.

Yes, they can be. Self-diagnosing isn't a great idea; lots of non-depressed people have some symptoms of depression. It would probably be a good idea to find someone to talk with though.

Where "someone" is a therapist or counsellor. They can refer you on to someone who works with pharmaceuticals if necessary, but there's a lot to try before going that route.
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