Depression – Experimental Treatments

Transcript

Magnetic Seizure Therapy is an investigational medical non-pharmacological intervention for depression. On some level, it’s a little bit of a blend between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in that it uses magnets to induce a seizure that is thought to help depression. It is not widely available and it is still being researched, but it is hoped that this may also provide some relief in the future for the appropriate patients. Nitrous oxide is an anesthetic that’s been around for years that is currently being explored at low doses to potentially help with the rapid treatment of depression. Repastinel is a medication that is being explored in research trials, hoping to work similar to ketamine; providing a rapid antidepressant response that may not be sustained that may be enough to pull a person out of a very severe depression in an acute situation.