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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

#201

Post by xapata »

ornornor wrote: post #190
xapata wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It took me a while to realize that most people don't consider suicide as one of a few strategies to deal with everyday problems. Thought process: I don't want to do my homework. I could (A) get up and do it, or (B) kill myself. Happily, I've learned to dissociate myself from the part of my consciousness that thinks that way.

> suicide as one of a few strategies to deal with everyday problems. That’s as much a solution to everyday problems as nuking the entire planet and the human race out of a existence is a solution to, say, Covid or hunger.

Indeed. Thus we describe that experience as mental illness.

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

#202

Post by isodude »

pvsukale3 wrote: post #191
isodude wrote: post #173

I've been dealing with depression, or rather, a couple of months with productivity where I really work my ass off producing great stuff, then have an as long downtime where I just manage to get by. Any choir was tough to start doing and completing. After being diagnosed with both ADD and ASD.1 I also was diagnosed with Bipolar 3/4. Did not even know they existed but they trigger these hypomania periods. Turns out tha…

You are not alone. I also have been going through something similar. I recently quit my job to work full time on my side project. I am financially secure for another year. I am very energetic for few days, I work my ass off and ship stuff. But after that I have these periods where I just can't do anything. It is hard to get out of bed. I feel like I am never going to make it with any of my projects. I have been to a…

The key here is "work my ass off". Even if you want to work, limit that part off and put that energy into training (like swimming e.g.). I know that sounds dull, but dull is better than not getting up from bed. If you are going to make it without the meds to stabilize, do limit the time you work in a manner that you don't fall in those cycles.

A well put metaphore I've heard is that you got a set of forks which you use daily. Make sure you don't run out of them. The problem is that it feels so great just using them all when you get a new clean batch after a couple of days of downtime..

Good for you that you are aiming for stability. Setting a structure and planning for mentally tough parts of the day (like social events) and never parting from that can make a total difference in life quality. It would for anyone obviously, but with living on some spectrum it's a life ingredient. Yeah, it's tough, and yes your life (as in with great life quality) depends on it.

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

#203

Post by lexapro »

antris wrote: post #157
fy20 wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does that apply to things you 'have' to do as well? I don't really like shopping for groceries, but I'd rather do that, than order take out that's expensive and probably not very healthy. If I'm going to cook something, I'd rather cook something with a different taste than eat pasta again. I don't really want to do laundry, but I do want to have clean clothes that don't smell. If I could afford to do so I wouldn't wo…

Yes. Depending on the severity of the depression, a depressed person might have problems with even basic things as brushing teeth and showering regularly and being able to do household chores.

There are non-depressed people who also struggle with this, I think.

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

#204

Post by xapata »

ctdonath wrote: post #135
beginnercounter wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

When the target of your objectively reasonable directive is self-admittedly of the mindset "I could (A) get up and do it, or (B) kill myself", you may want to reconsider the wording.

Don't worry, I'm pretty stable these days. And seeing a therapist helped. To your point, it was someone else who booked the first appointment for me. So, if you know someone who might benefit, it'd be good to help them out with the process of finding a therapist.

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

#205

Post by hsn915 »

arcticfox wrote: post #74
londons_explore wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder what results you'd get if you tried a treatment which was literal torture...? Eg. "We'll poke this red hot poker into you 10 times to cure your depression"... Many painful screams later... "So, is the depression any better now, or should we do more treatment?".. "Yes, yes, I'm pretty much cured!". How can we be sure that this 'torture effect' isn't whats being measured here? Especially when the treatment app…

Wouldn't the patients just opt out of the trial rather than continue and lie to the researchers? Nobody's being forced into it

You can't assume that.

Part of being depressed is you don't even have the will to resist being treated in a way that you don't like.

In fact, I'd say that feeling powerless against conditions that you don't like is the core of what depression is.

It's why someone who is depressed doesn't feel like doing anything, because they feel like no matter what they do nothing will ever change so nothing they do is ever worth the effort.

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

#206

Post by lexapro »

rubicon33 wrote: post #117
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 su…

That's just one of many symptoms you're describing here (loss of interest). For me the main symptom is depressed mood, which essentially feels like someone you cared about a lot died recently.

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

#207

Post by hsn915 »

londons_explore wrote: post #44
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…

I wonder what results you'd get if you tried a treatment which was literal torture...? Eg. "We'll poke this red hot poker into you 10 times to cure your depression"... Many painful screams later... "So, is the depression any better now, or should we do more treatment?".. "Yes, yes, I'm pretty much cured!". How can we be sure that this 'torture effect' isn't whats being measured here? Especially when the treatment app…

It doesn't need to be that intrusive.

Just mildly uncomfortable .. for a period of time longer than one would be willing to tolerate.

Something like being at the dentist when you have many cavities in your teeth.

You can tolerate one or two sessions. But the idea of doing it every day for two weeks straight is unbearable enough that you decide on the third day to report feeling well.

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

#208

Post by xapata »

nebula8804 wrote: post #112
girvo wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I found medications ineffective, but my last therapist helped me tremendously. If your therapist isn't helping, find a new one. There's no shame in switching.

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

#209

Post by pault »

isodude wrote: post #173

I've been dealing with depression, or rather, a couple of months with productivity where I really work my ass off producing great stuff, then have an as long downtime where I just manage to get by. Any choir was tough to start doing and completing. After being diagnosed with both ADD and ASD.1 I also was diagnosed with Bipolar 3/4. Did not even know they existed but they trigger these hypomania periods. Turns out tha…

Bipolar 2 here. I didn't get diagnosed until I was in my late 20s. I just thought I got carried away with things sometimes. I got on lamotragin a few years ago and I've been Even Steven since, but I do sometimes miss the productivity of the mania. Not worth the downs though.

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

#210

Post by bencollier49 »

jiggawatts wrote: post #47
jrumbut wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a great comment. I've always been a little uncomfortable with the thought of this magnetic treatment in a way I couldn't put into words and this nails it. I'm willing to trust, perhaps naively, that everyone is getting the same Prozac tablets. But how does the skill of the practitioner and maintenance of their magnetic treatment device affect outcomes? It's almost like a surgery, but I'm not sure who's actual…

It seems like a… blunt instrument. That’s what gives me pause.

I concur with this, and the concern that you don't just get something for free. What is the actual mechanism at play here?
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