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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by psychobot5000 on January 31, 2010, at 16:26:07
Hi all,
Might have a chance to do transcranial magnetic stimulation, or some variant thereof, soon, but I haven't been keeping up with the research in this area. What's the current state of opinion about how efficacious rTMS (and related acronyms) is for depression? How about treatment-resistant depression?
Also, experiences with TMS? Anything I should know?
Thanks,
Psychbot5000
Posted by floatingbridge on February 1, 2010, at 15:11:09
In reply to Current thinking on rTMS (efficacy)?, posted by psychobot5000 on January 31, 2010, at 16:26:07
Hi,
Recently reccommended by a ' top doc' to me as a possibility. He said it's successful in a high percentage (I forget the number) IF treatment is for six weeks instead of four, and if followed by a maintenance med-- he mentioned cymbalta.
I have no personal experience. He also said, when asked, that it was not a 'reset' button; hence the med, and, oh yes, an occasional follow-up treatment.
What have you heard or thought?
fb
Posted by SLS on February 1, 2010, at 20:00:44
In reply to Re: Current thinking on rTMS (efficacy)? » psychobot5000, posted by floatingbridge on February 1, 2010, at 15:11:09
Hi FB
> He said it's successful in a high percentage (I forget the number) IF treatment is for six weeks instead of four,
How many treatments per week?
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on February 1, 2010, at 20:14:14
In reply to Re: Current thinking on rTMS (efficacy)? » floatingbridge, posted by SLS on February 1, 2010, at 20:00:44
Hi Scott,
4-5 treatments of approximately 1 hour each. Not sure my insurance would cover them.
He was pretty upbeat about the results....
fb
> Hi FB
>
> > He said it's successful in a high percentage (I forget the number) IF treatment is for six weeks instead of four,
>
> How many treatments per week?
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by psychobot5000 on February 1, 2010, at 21:30:09
In reply to Re: Current thinking on rTMS (efficacy)? » SLS, posted by floatingbridge on February 1, 2010, at 20:14:14
> Hi Scott,
>
> 4-5 treatments of approximately 1 hour each. Not sure my insurance would cover them.
>
> He was pretty upbeat about the results....
>
> fb
>
>
> > Hi FB
> >
> > > He said it's successful in a high percentage (I forget the number) IF treatment is for six weeks instead of four,
> >
> > How many treatments per week?
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
>To answer your original question, fb, I haven't heard or thought much, except that I've found it a little difficult to find recent efficacy data (not that I've looked very hard--anyway I'm only interested in the barest facts--what percentage improved, etc). On the website of the company that seems to make the machines, they had a litte bit posted, but it was not very impressive.
Beyond that, the course recommended to you is interesting: the six week treatment, with 4 or more treatments per week, if I read correctly, but followed only by an 'occasional follow-up.' I imagine this being another single treatment, i.e. 1 visit for 1 hour, every few weeks or months...is this correct? It'd be nice if that were all it took to maintain a response (especially considering how much treatments cost)...do you know if that's what's meant?
Best,
psychbot5000
Posted by floatingbridge on February 1, 2010, at 22:38:08
In reply to Re: Current thinking on rTMS (efficacy)?, posted by psychobot5000 on February 1, 2010, at 21:30:09
Psychobot,
I really don't know--I took him to mean case by case, but that is an assumption. It was not recommended as my next immediate step, so I left it at that. Remember, he did say med follow up was required (well, at least for me). He was also pretty upbeat in general, for what that's worth.
If you turn up anything interesting, please post. What was the percentage posted by the company?
fb
Posted by psychobot5000 on February 2, 2010, at 19:23:14
In reply to Re: Current thinking on rTMS (efficacy)? » psychobot5000, posted by floatingbridge on February 1, 2010, at 22:38:08
> Psychobot,
>
> I really don't know--I took him to mean case by case, but that is an assumption.Sorry, but, what is it you're referring to here?
> If you turn up anything interesting, please post. What was the percentage posted by the company?
>
> fbI couldn't find the same page I found before, but here's a somewhat fuller review of efficacy, the only caveat being it's from 2003 or so. Don't know how more recent studies have done.
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/content/vol160/issue5/images/large/L64T1.jpeg
Here's the review it's from:
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/160/5/835Best,
psychbot
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