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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

#111

Post by andai »

ajaxexact wrote: post #79
pcurve wrote: 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.

If you feel persistently low, tired, unhappy, or unable to do things then it's a real possibility. The PHQ-9 is a pretty standard depression screening questionnaire that you can complete in a minute or two. https://www.mdcalc.com/phq-9-patient-health-questionnaire-9

This doesn't control for the fact that the world sucks now, does it? I read a few months ago that ~25% of young adults had thoughts of suicide in the past year, so I think it's safe to say that the causes are more external than internal at this point.

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

#112

Post by nebula8804 »

girvo wrote: post #59
pcurve wrote: 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 wor…

>For me, a short 3-4 month course of a particular SSRI lets me beat back the worst of it

Can you elaborate which one are you using? I was prescribed Wellbutrin/bupropion (along with some therapy sessions) about a month ago and I seem to notice no changes. I'm going to continue to be hopeful but it seems like this wasn't the one for me so just wondering what you were using.

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

#113

Post by guntars »

Lammy wrote: post #15
webinvest wrote: post #2

> “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…

Does this also imply the possibility of the inverse, magnetically making people depressed?

They stimulate activity in a precisely chosen part of the brain. There is no inverse. They could stimulate a different part. In fact, they use the motor cortex to calibrate the stimulation level to be the lowest that produces any involuntary movement. I imagine it must be interesting for the subjects.

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

#116

Post by throwDec21 »

pcurve wrote: 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.

Procrastination, not enough sleep, alcohol and no hobbies sounds pretty normal for most people.

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

#117

Post by rubicon33 »

pcurve wrote: 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.

I've had depression for 20+ years and the best way I would describe it is like this:

Think of that little "kick" you get when you think of something you want to do. Maybe you like eating ice cream, maybe you like playing tennis, whatever it is... that feeling, that subconscious little mental boost that gets you up off your ass, and moving... is completely absent in the depressed mind.

That spark that initiates and sustains action, is simply not there. Tasks, even small ones, are giant and the future is hopeless.

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

#118

Post by me_again »

Lammy wrote: post #15
webinvest wrote: post #2

> “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…

Does this also imply the possibility of the inverse, magnetically making people depressed?

This reminds me of Greg Egan's creepily effective SF story "Reasons to be Cheerful", which is online here: https://www.utilitarianism.com/greg-egan/Reasons-To-Be-Cheer...

How happy would you choose be if you could consciously decide how happy to be?

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

#119

Post by ActorNightly »

throwDec21 wrote: post #116
pcurve wrote: 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.

Procrastination, not enough sleep, alcohol and no hobbies sounds pretty normal for most people.

I think the criteria for a diagnosis is if it interferes with your regular day to day life (ability to hold a job, relationships, e.t.c)

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

#120

Post by witheld »

jcims wrote: post #71
carabiner wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some TMS clinics are offering the SAINT protocol off-label. Not covered by insurance of course, supposedly runs around $6k.

There's a used TMS machine on ebay for $8k (and $70k) and clinical instruction videos on YouTube. Could be a good side hustle haha. Unfortunately for SAINT it looks like you also need fMRI to correctly target the therapy...that's going to be a bit tougher to DIY.

Just start the process, get the fMRI scan, pay for that, and request a copy and bail.
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