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rTMS effects only reaches outer cortex of brain

Posted by Psychquackery on August 24, 2003, at 22:36:57

The September 2003 issue of Scientific American magazine is devoted to brain issues. Almost all of the articles are centered around neuropsychiatric illnesses that cause chronic disability such as major depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, parkinsons disease, etc. One of the articles titled "Stimulating the Brain" is by none other than distinguished Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Mark George...foremost proponent of MIBS treatments such as rTMS for treating depression.

In this eye opening article, Dr. George discusses how rTMS only reaches a few centimeters past the scalp. Essentially reaching only the outer cortex of the brain. Hardly effective enough for treating severe neuropsychiatric conditions. The article discusses how this is a major pitfall of rTMS and if a way to stimulate deeper into the brain could be developed, it could yield better results.

The article mentions that the "holy grail" of rTMS researchers is to figure out a way to stimulate deeper regions of the brain safely using magnetism. So far however, this has proven elusive.

Perhaps the money being spent on these sorts of projects would be better spent trying to overhaul ECT's tarnished image so more severely depressed individuals would volunteer for ECT. ECT, unlike rTMS, is clinically proven to robustly work for severe mood disorders.

Igor


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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/253703.html