A new approach to treating severe depression using magnetic fields better preserves patients’ cognitive abilities while beating traditional electroconvulsive therapy, according to a large clinical trial led by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. demonstrated effectiveness comparable to that of
This research Biological psychiatry: cognitive neuroscience and neuroimagingThis represents a major advance in the treatment of major depressive disorder, especially for patients who have not responded to traditional treatments.
“These results demonstrate that MST is a safe and beneficial antidepressant neurotherapy,” said lead author and professor of psychiatry and author of the study at UT Southwestern’s Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute. said Dr. Sean McClintock.
The research team conducted a comprehensive study of 73 patients with treatment-resistant depression, comparing magnetic seizure therapy (MST) and electroconvulsive therapy, which has been the standard treatment for severe depression for more than 80 years. (ECT) was compared. Although ECT remains effective, its use is limited by the temporary but significant effects on memory and cognitive function that can last for several months.
In this study, 38 patients received ECT and 35 received MST, treated three times a week until remission or improvement plateaued. The research team assessed both depressive symptoms and cognitive function before treatment began and within 72 hours after the last session.
Similar effects, different effects
The results revealed that both treatments achieved comparable success rates, with approximately 50% of patients in each group showing significant improvement or achieving remission of depression. ECT patients typically required about 7 sessions, whereas MST patients required about 9 sessions to achieve similar results.
However, cognitive outcomes differed significantly between the two groups. Patients who received ECT experienced significant declines in multiple cognitive domains, including verbal fluency, executive function, and memory retention. In contrast, patients treated with MST maintained cognitive performance on most measures, and some even showed improvements in fine motor skills.
Both groups experienced a decline in autobiographical memory coherence, or the ability to recall personal life events, but the decline was significantly less severe in the MST group than in the group receiving ECT. .
technological innovation
MST represents an evolution in seizure therapy that utilizes magnetic fields rather than electrical current to induce therapeutic seizures. The treatment is performed under anesthesia, similar to ECT, but employs techniques derived from transcranial magnetic stimulation to more precisely target specific brain areas.
The researchers’ analysis showed that MST patients maintained stable performance in the areas of attention, verbal fluency, executive function, and verbal learning and memory. This preservation of cognitive function may make MST particularly valuable for patients who need to maintain work ability or manage daily responsibilities during treatment.
I’m looking forward to it
The research team, which includes collaborators from Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute and Duke University School of Medicine, will conduct a larger clinical trial to further compare the two treatments and explore the mechanisms behind their antidepressant effects. We are planning to conduct a test.
“This is one of the biggest deterrents against ECT, so we want to do our best to minimize this,” McClintock said. “Some say these side effects outweigh the benefits.”
This research was supported by grants from the Stanley Medical Research Foundation, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Center for the Advancement of Translational Science.
As research advances, MST may represent a major advance in the treatment of severe depression, offering patients and healthcare providers an option that combines the effectiveness of ECT with better preservation of cognitive function. This treatment is still being studied and will need FDA approval before it can be widely available to patients.
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