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Re: Update on the me and the ECT, and TMS vs. ECT » PhoenixGirl

Posted by Cam W. on September 20, 2001, at 6:49:23

In reply to Update on the me and the ECT, and TMS vs. ECT, posted by PhoenixGirl on September 19, 2001, at 15:24:43

PhoenixGirl - TMS does have some interesting possibilities. The seizure-inducing version of TMS seems to be even better. TMS has the advantage over ECT in that the magnetic pulse is more focal. The magnetic pulse can be more localized to exact structures in the brain, whereas the electric pulse of ECT is partially blocked and spread out by the bones of the skull.

That being said, I am not sure that I would want to undergo TMS treatments just yet. The technique is too new, and all the bugs have not been worked out just yet. They haven't quite figured out what dosage of magnetism is optimal, or whether sub-seizure threshold TMS is as effective as ECT. Although TMS can be localized much more accurately than ECT, they are not quite sure where to focus the magnetic pulse for optimal efficacy. They has also had some problems generalizing animal data to humans. There have also been too many negative studies with TMS (although fewer than even a year or two ago, as the technique is being further refined).

For now, if it were me, I think that I would still prefer ECT; at least until more of the above problems have been addressed. I also don't like the idea of having to pay to be a guinea pig. I may change my mind in a year or two, as the TMS techniques are refined, and more positive data is published.

The seizure-inducing TMS is particularily intriguing, but they are having a problem with the amount of heat that is generated with current technology (ie. some animals are getting nasty burns, and the procedure seems to be far too uncomfortable, as of yet). Once they have worked out how to produce focal seizures with TMS, I believe that this procedure will work as well, if not better, than ECT, with far fewer sife effects (esp. amnesia).

Before deciding which way to go, ask your doc and others who work closely with TMS about the above concerns. Make sure you are able to guage just how far the research into TMS has progressed (ie. how much better the procedure is, than has been reported in the literature, to date), before putting out the big bucks on a still unproven therapy. No matter how promising TMS may look, most of the excitement in the scientific community is still based in the future.

Perhaps go with the ECT now and, if need be, consider TMS in a year or two.

Just some of my thoughts on TMS; the ultimste decidion is yours to make. - Cam


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poster:Cam W. thread:79097
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010917/msgs/79140.html