Electric treatment for severe depression

Electric treatment for severe depression

A new study published in the journal Brain Stimulation (Brain Stimulation) reports initial clinical results of a new type of flour ECT treatment is called ischemic heart electrically centrally (FEAST).

This new form of ECT uses direct stimulation that is sent by pulses, and the bulk of the electrical current sent directly through one electrode is placed on the head after five centimeters of the right eye. ECT traditional uses alternating current, which flows in both directions, and thus difficult directed towards a particular place. ECT (ECT) is still the most effective treatment for acute depression. But even with the latest forms of ECT, there is still a significant risk of adverse effects on cognition, especially memory problems.

The head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical Center at the American University in Beirut, Dr. Ziad copper, lead author of  the University of South Carolina Medical and Columbia University in New York: "In this  we found that ECT which aims to place a certain led to clinical improvement significantly in depression for these patients, "he said, adding:" Most importantly, it took patients only five minutes to regain competency cognitive entirely since lighten their eyes after the treatment. this timeframe predicts usually side effects of cognitive over the long term which is much faster than any other form of forms of ECT, in terms of time to restore cognitive competencies much longer, sometimes up to or more than an hour. "

This clinical trial that tested with seventeen adult suffering from depression, built on the work of earlier designed and animal experiments conducted at the University of Columbia. Overall, decreased symptoms of depression in this group by almost half, after the rate of 10 meetings during the four weeks.

And eight patients experienced at least a 50% reduction in their symptoms, while symptoms of depression still largely in five patients. This was the first human use of the treatment of ischemic heart electrically centrally (FEAST), and researchers continue to improve the use of this treatment methods and test how it works by Alosai imaging of the brain.

Said Dr. Harold Sakiem, a professor of psychiatry and radiology at Columbia University and the first developers of this technology: "These results are encouraging initial refers to the possibility of improving and perfecting ECT system with more accurate and centralized like FEAST. This is the data confirmed exciting in depressed patients based on what we found In previous research