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NeuroStar TMS Depression Therapy System First To Be Given FDA Approval
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Lets You Deactivate Selected Parts of Your Brain
The Migraine Zapper in the Wild

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chekyoself
11/13/09

In reply to NeuroStar TMS Depression Therapy System First To Be Given FDA Approval
i'm a psychiatrist, and this tech is amazing. there is no shocking of the patient at all. while the absolute mechanism involved for helping depression is not understood, the principle is that the magnetic stimulation is able to re-direct the electrical impulses in the circuitry of the pre-frontal cortex.

as an aside, those of you thinking electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is "cruel" or "dangerous" need to catch up on your reading and stop watching that old Simpson's episode. ECT is performed with general anesthesia, so there is no pain. it is still commonly used and is actually the number one treatment modality (better than medications) for a number of psychiatric conditions, including depression, mania, delirium, and severe psychosis. the success rate of ECT is only limited by the public perception that it's just a step down from putting someone in an electric chair. #neurostar
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Curves
11/13/09

In reply to NeuroStar TMS Depression Therapy System First To Be Given FDA Approval
I thought shock therapy went out in the 50s. #neurostar
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pete1061
11/13/09

@Curves: This seems a lot more targeted and gentile than shock therapy. #neurostar
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LastAndLeast
11/13/09

@pete1061: and y'know, not actually electrical. Article says it's magnetism. #neurostar
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Curves
11/13/09

@LastAndLeast: Definition: "Magnetic fields surround magnetic materials and electric currents and are detected by the force they exert on other magnetic materials and moving electric charges". Sounds pretty electrical to me. #neurostar
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roflwaffles is attempting hipster irony
11/13/09

@Curves:
It's powered by electricity, but doesn't use it on the patient.
For example, a dentist wouldn't use electricity to polish a tooth. #neurostar
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Curves
11/13/09

@roflwaffles is attempting hipster irony: I am all for it if it helps people, but it just sounds really bad. I am, personally, crazy, but thank goodness not THAT crazy. #neurostar
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NotEdible
11/13/09

@Curves: The magnetic field as described in the definition above does not carry any electric current, it is the result of the electric current. To understand the relation, electrical engineers use something called the right hand rule. If you put your hand in front of you and point your thumb up as if hitch-hiking and keep your other fingers half-curled, then the thumb shows the direction that the current flows through the wire, and your other fingers shows the direction the magnetic field travels radially around the wire (outside the wire). This is why electromagnets make normal magnets more powerful, because whenever current flows through a wire it always creates a magnetic field as well. The device described in the article is much like sticking a magnet against your forehead, except they are able to control the strength and how often the magnet is on (somewhat similar to an MRI). There would be no electrical shock at all. #neurostar
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Curves
11/13/09

@NotEdible: I love it when you guys get all technical. I learn an amazing amount of stuff on Giz, which is why I read it. Thanks.

And still I think this therapy is kind of creepy. #neurostar
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NotEdible
11/13/09

@Curves: No problem ;-) And despite my comment about no electrical shock, it is pretty creepy. I'm really curious as to why this would actually do anything. I wouldn't really want anything passing fields through my head, although with things like cellphones and even headphones we already do. Alas. #neurostar
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Curves
11/13/09

@NotEdible: I figured out how it works. The patient is so terrified by this s/he SWEARS they are better so they dont have to go through it. I know it would scare ME straight. #neurostar
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Kristofer Kathmann
11/13/09

@Curves: If you think electroshock is scary, you should watch this TED Talk discussing how the presenter's life was saved by it. It was moving to me and changed my perception of the treatment.

[www.ted.com] #neurostar
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ShadowX
11/13/09

In reply to NeuroStar TMS Depression Therapy System First To Be Given FDA Approval
I suffer from severe depession and am on a prety high dose of a drug that boosts seratonin. I get very few side effects but would welcome an alternative especially one that is non invasive. #neurostar
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yogibimbi
11/13/09

In reply to NeuroStar TMS Depression Therapy System First To Be Given FDA Approval
great! Now we have one more option to get rid of the symptoms of depression without even having a passing glance at the reasons. Nothing better than a functioning individual, to hell with any unpleasant memories or psychological deviations from the standard. Shiny happy people indeed. #neurostar
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MrEvil
11/13/09

@yogibimbi: I suffer from clinical depression and there was no life-altering event in my childhood to cause it. I've never been abused, molested, mistreated, or exposed to anything approaching emotional trauma.

Then again I worship Xenu so what do I know? #neurostar
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yogibimbi
11/16/09

@MrEvil: well, welcome to the club. This just goes to show that different people have different anamneses; a purely metabological etiology for depressions is also possible, of course (nothing works without a metabological disposition), but usually there are more complex triggers, including psychological ones.

And be careful: Just not being aware of any potential psychological reasons does not mean that there aren't any. The brain is a very efficient tool for self-protection, aka self-deception.

Sometimes, not trusting your memories and digging around regardless can turn up interesting results.
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Edited by yogibimbi at 11/16/09 11:27 AM yogibimbi was starred yogibimbi was unstarred

duck
11/13/09

In reply to NeuroStar TMS Depression Therapy System First To Be Given FDA Approval
Smells like placebo to me, but do correct me if this is properly scientifically supported. #neurostar
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valkilmerisawful
11/13/09

@duck0: Rabidly lefthanded grouch: Funny thing about this, the universe... sometimes placebo's work, if they work. Whether it's a chair in an office, or a sugar pill, let's to hope either of the metaphysics doesn't cost too much money. #neurostar
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Jacubious
11/13/09

In reply to NeuroStar TMS Depression Therapy System First To Be Given FDA Approval
Apparently dentists have an abnormally high suicide rate compared to other professions, so that chair might be quite soothing for those who need it. #neurostar
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