USF Researchers Now Look Into Impacts of Brain Stimulation for Depression

(Newswire.net — September 24, 2021) Orlando, FL — Over the years, there had been an increased use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in psychiatry. However, it has remained true that the rates at which patients respond to the therapy and experience remission of often-disabling symptoms have been modest at best. 

Depression affects hundreds of millions of people today, and this is why more and more experts are carrying out studies to investigate it. 

A team of psychiatrists and biomedical engineers carried out a study. In this research, they applied an emerging functional neuroimaging technology, which is known as diffuse optical tomography (DOT).

This is for the purpose of better understanding the manner rTMS works. Learning about this allows them to start enhancing the brain stimulation procedure’s effectiveness in treating depression.

In 2008, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS, was FDA approved as a safe and effective non-invasive treatment for depression severe enough to e resistant to antidepressant medications. 

According to experts, there is a small coil located near the scalp that generates repetitive, pulsed magnetic waves, which pass through the skull and stimulate brain cells. This has been found to offer relief to symptoms of depression. 

It is, however, important to note that the procedure has few side effects and is usually prescribed as an alternative or supplemental therapy.

It is worth noting that there was indeed an increase in the use of rTMS in psychiatry. However, the rates at which patients actually respond to therapy, as well as experience remission from often-disabling symptoms, have been modest at best.

The investigators point to three major reasons why TMS has not been able to live up to its full potential in the treatment of major depression. These are nonoptimized brain stimulation targeting; unclear treatment parameters, and incomplete knowledge of how nerve cells in the brain respond physiologically to the procedure.

The findings of this interesting research were published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. 

Over the years, the scientific community has been investigating the various aspects of mental health. It is worth keeping in mind that some nutrients are found useful in battling depression. These are B vitamins, which have been scientifically found to have disease-fighting benefits.

In some studies, intake of B vitamins has been found to help enhance symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Formulas like Divine Bounty B Vitamin Complex may be particularly helpful for individuals who are trying to protect and enhance their mental health.

It contains Choline, Pantothenic acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamin, and vitamin B6. Every Vegetarian and easy-to-swallow capsule of this formula is made carefully in an FDA-inspected facility in the U.S. (https://amazon.com/dp/B07414752B).