When Tommy Van Brocklin signed up for a trial of a special type of magnetic brain stimulation therapy that could potentially ease his depression, he had already been living with the mood disorder for 45 years.
Van Brocklin, 60, first underwent an MRI that located the part of his brain that regulates executive functions such as problem-solving and inhibits unwanted responses.
Then for five days, for 10-minute sessions 10 times each day, doctors used repeated pulses to stimulate the part of his brain that could impact his depression.
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The treatment, called SAINT, is an intensive, individualized form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In the new trial, researchers worked with 29 individuals who had severe depression that was resistant to other treatments. About half of the participants received SAINT. The other half had a placebo that was meant to mimic the real treatment with a magnetic coil that felt like a magnetic pulse
The relief came quickly, within days, and was successful for 78.6% of the treatment group. They were found to be no longer depressed in standard evaluations. Side effects were temporary fatigue and headaches.
