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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by poser938 on May 30, 2014, at 17:08:32
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27115432
this is kinda interesting. but i didnt see anything about ut coming to America. but its good to see they are striving to fund treatments that benefit those who either dont benefit from AD'sor cant tolerate them.
i think before long, some truly amazing brain stimulation therapy will be made available that will be seen as a miracle by many.
Posted by babbler20 on May 30, 2014, at 17:10:24
In reply to Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy', posted by poser938 on May 30, 2014, at 17:08:32
I got TMS and it didn't do anything except waste my gas and money. I'm not too hopeful about this.
Posted by poser938 on May 30, 2014, at 18:07:51
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy', posted by babbler20 on May 30, 2014, at 17:10:24
Yeah i had the same exact experience with TMS. Have you read about Optogenegics? Right now it is only being used to study the brain in animals. but its a fascinating technology. i think something really good will come out of it.
Posted by Hugh on May 30, 2014, at 22:14:16
In reply to Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy', posted by poser938 on May 30, 2014, at 17:08:32
T-PEMF (Transcranial Pulsating Electro Magnetic Fields) is much newer than TMS, so it hasn't been studied nearly as extensively, but in small clinical trials, it appears to be quite a bit more effective than TMS. TMS usually uses 10 hertz, almost always over the left prefrontal cortex. T-PEMF fluctuates between 50 and 100 hertz, and is applied all over the scalp simultaneously. Unlike TMS, it can be used at home. It sounds like doctors will be able to lease units to their patients.
Another brain stimulation device that looks even more promising is LFMS (Low-Field Magnetic Stimulation). If the large clinical trials go as well as the small ones did, LFMS might be available in a few years.
Posted by babbler20 on May 31, 2014, at 4:38:29
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy', posted by poser938 on May 30, 2014, at 18:07:51
I haven't, but I will look into it. Thanks for the suggestion. I read a New York Times article that said TMS works for 14% of people that tried it. I chose to ignore it, but I'm sure they were right. TMS is greater for doctor's wallets, but unfortunately it seems ineffective for patients.
Posted by johnLA on July 9, 2014, at 5:39:31
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy', posted by Hugh on May 30, 2014, at 22:14:16
hi hugh-
hope you are doing ok, or even better.
i have read that this helmet that poser first posted may be available in the EU within the year. do you have anymore info on this?
my pdoc mentioned last week that one of his patients has a 'depression helmet.' i said a tns unit? he said no. i will follow-up with what he meant. said it cost about $700 or so. why i thought it was a tns deal.
also, the other therapy you mention; any links to that? curious. very curious. is it being tested in the usa or somewhere else?
i'm slowly giving-up on meds for now. the one time i got true remission was from unilateral ect. i agree with poser that i really think for some of us some sort of brain stimulation will be the future.
thanks for any info as always.
john
Posted by Hugh on July 16, 2014, at 0:21:11
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy' » Hugh, posted by johnLA on July 9, 2014, at 5:39:31
Hi John,
I didn't notice your post until now. It's possible that the Danish depression helmet will be available in the EU late this year or early next year. Here's the patent for it:
http://www.google.com/patents/US20120101327
There are clinical trials going on now at several locations in the US for the other treatment I mentioned -- LFMS (Low-Field Magnetic Stimulation). An article about the device:
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/01.22/01-depression.html
Please post any information you find on that other depression helmet your pdoc mentioned.
Did you see that Deep TMS is now in Manhattan Beach?
Posted by johnLA on July 16, 2014, at 18:54:57
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy' » johnLA, posted by Hugh on July 16, 2014, at 0:21:11
thnx so much hugh.
really appreciate all the info you provide.
i did not know about the deep tms in MB. i live 5 minutes away. and, that's the town i used to teach in. hmmm...might give them a shout.
i will ask my pdoc what helmet he was asking about next time i see him and let you know.
thnx again for your help. REALLY appreciate it.
john
Posted by johnLA on July 27, 2014, at 8:50:31
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy' » johnLA, posted by Hugh on July 16, 2014, at 0:21:11
hi hugh-
the 'helmet' my doc told me about was that fisher wallace deal. was a bit bummed about hearing that. i thought he would have something more 'up his sleeve' than that, so to speak.
i got in touch with the doc in manhattan beach who does deep tms. we exchanged phone msgs. she has been doing tms for several years now and just started with the deep tms. i will let you know what i find out.
meanwhile i have found out that my insurance covers regular tms. i will push to get that started asap. one can hope, but i am not expecting a miracle. some relief would be great.
if that does not work, i will then see what my options are financially regarding the deep tms.
hugh have you come across any studies showing that deep tms has better results for depression than regular tms? i will look for that as well.
i'll keep you and everyone else posted.
thanks again.
john
Posted by johnLA on July 27, 2014, at 19:49:49
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy' » johnLA, posted by Hugh on July 16, 2014, at 0:21:11
hugh-
just wanted to say 'thanks' for the push.
i contacted the deep tms doc in my area. she is not a provider on my insurance plan, but there is another well-repected doc that does regular tms that is covered under my insurance. i plan on starting with him as soon as i can.
anyway, thanks for being on top of new treatments and letting us all know about them.
even if tms and deep tms fails i find hope even in that funky 'depression helmet' that should be available in europe they say in less than a year.
thanks again for your help.
john
Posted by Hugh on July 27, 2014, at 22:43:00
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy' » Hugh, posted by johnLA on July 27, 2014, at 8:50:31
Hi John,
You're welcome. That is disappointing that it just turned out to be Fisher Wallace.
This article mentions the difference in remission rates between regular TMS and Deep TMS:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/new-approach-to-depression
If your insurance will only cover regular TMS, I think you should try to have it done at this place in Santa Monica:http://www.smartbrainandhealth.com
They use fMRI to detect areas of the brain that might be dysfunctional, and then target those areas with TMS. Most TMS practitioners go in blind, using a one-size-fits-all approach, with nearly everyone receiving 10 hertz over the left prefrontal cortex.
Good luck.
Posted by johnLA on July 27, 2014, at 23:50:26
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy' » johnLA, posted by Hugh on July 27, 2014, at 22:43:00
thanks again hugh.
argh. the place you recommended is not so highly recommended;
i see your point about mapping the brain, but the local docs i have access to are much more highly rated than the 'smart brain' place by yelp and other rating sites i checked.
once you get up into west LA/beverly hills i really think it's a lot more about $ than actual treatment.
i will mention to the doc i plan on going to about the brain imaging to see what he will have to say.
thanks again. :)
i'll keep you posted!
john
Posted by Hugh on July 28, 2014, at 10:07:15
In reply to Re: Depression Treatment with 'Helmet Therapy', posted by johnLA on July 27, 2014, at 23:50:26
If you can find a TMS practitioner who uses priming stimulation, it might improve your chances of success.
This is the end of the thread.
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