May 18, 2005
Depression treated without drugs?
Now this is cool. Treat clinical depression using magnets. I wonder if this really works, and if it's something that the FDA would probably shoot down because the pharm companies would lobby against it. If it does work, man that would be great.
ABC News: Using Magnets to Treat Depression
"TMS uses electromagnets to send pulses of energy directly into the left side of the brain, which is thought to control mood. In patients who are depressed, there is often less activity in this part of the brain. The magnets create an electric current and get the brain cells to fire.
...
Patients are generally treated for a few weeks and, if it works, the depression is staved off for months at a time."