National Library of Medicine: IGM
Full Record Screen
TITLE:
Transcranial magnetic stimulation as therapy for
depression and other disorders.
AUTHOR:
Kirkcaldie MT; Pridmore SA; Pascual-Leone A
AUTHOR AFFILIATION:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University
of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
SOURCE:
Aust N Z J Psychiatry 1997 Apr;31(2):264-72
NLM CIT. ID:
97285380
ABSTRACT:
OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the progress
and prospects of transcranial magnetic stimulation as a psychiatric therapy for
depression. METHOD: Published and unpublished studies of the usefulness of transcranial
magnetic stimulation as a therapy for depression were assessed, and characterised in terms
of a consistent measure of dosage. Additional information was obtained through
correspondence, personal meetings and visits to facilities. RESULTS: Transcranial magnetic
stimulation, a means for inducing small regional currents in the brain, has been used in
clinical neurology for some time, and can be used on conscious subjects with minimal
side-effects. Early researchers noticed transient mood effects on people receiving this
treatment, which prompted several inconclusive investigations of its effects on depressed
patients. More recently, knowledge of functional abnormalities associated with depression
has led to trials using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to stimulate
underactive left prefrontal regions, an approach which has produced short-term benefits
for some subjects. The higher dosage delivered by high-frequency repetitive transcranial
magnetic stimulation appears to produce greater benefits; scope exists for more conclusive
studies based on extended treatment periods. CONCLUSIONS: Repetitive transcranial magnetic
stimulation is a promising technology. The reviewed evidence indicates that it may be
useful in the treatment of depression, and perhaps other disorders which are associated
with regional hypometabolism. Should repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation prove an
effective, non-invasive, drug-free treatment for depression, a range of disorders could be
similarly treatable.
MAIN MESH SUBJECTS:
Depressive Disorder/*THERAPY
Magnetics/*ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE
Schizophrenia/*THERAPY
ADDITIONAL MESH SUBJECTS:
Comparative Study
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Human
PUBLICATION TYPES:
JOURNAL ARTICLE
LANGUAGE:
Eng
On Sabbatical!
When my office
lease expired at the end of 2004, I decided to turn it into a
"sabbatical" from my private practice. Many years ago, in my
grandfather's 89th year of life, he told me, "John, it is important
to smell the roses while you can still smell them." His life
gave living a very good reputation. It is also true that the
pursuit of that philosophy required my grandfather to to re-open his
assay office/ore market in Wickenburg, Arizona as a 75-year-old because
he had run a little short of retirement money. Thus, if blessed with his
luck and health, I'll be back.. --jjh
