We are among the first controlled studies to do this in Norway. There are good studies abroad that show that this is a good form of treatment, And the treatment has few side effectsr, says psychologist Marty Urbo.
She is part of a research group at UiT that will investigate a new form of treatment for depression.
Treatment includes brain stimulation with magnetic pulses.
The form of treatment is approved in both the USA and the European Union, but is used to some extent for depression in Norway. Today, only Kristiansund and Sandviken Hospital in Bergen offer this type of treatment for depression.
“We want to come up with some pointers that can provide more knowledge about the characteristics of patients who can definitely be said to benefit from this type of treatment,” Orbo says.
The study was funded by Helse Nord, a collaboration between UiT and Northern Norway University Hospital. The study is conducted by the Department of Psychology at UiT.
A study is also underway in Bergen on depression and magnetic pulses.
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The treatment consists of what is called Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
That is, you place a magnetic coil over the area of the brain that you want to stimulate. Then short current pulses are sent through the coil which forms a magnetic field.
Researchers will use stimulation that is more time-efficient than traditional TMS. The stimulation itself takes three minutes, and participating patients will have to attend the ten-day treatment.
This is a randomized controlled study. We will have at least 96 patients. Half of the patients will receive an active treatment, and the other half will receive a placebo. Neither the person evaluating the patient’s condition nor the patient themselves know whether they are receiving a real treatment or a placebo, Urbo says.
Participating patients will be assessed for depression before, during and after treatment.
We hope this will be a clinical symptom of depression. Depression is a highly heterogeneous disease, So there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. FifthUrbo says you need more treatment options.
An MRI will also be performed on the patients participating in the study. The study will include patients for two years.
– The need for new
We need more studies on treating depression. Depression is a societal problem. There are many who suffer from it and we see it as one increase among young people. It will also be important for the development of depression in adults in the future. Therefore, new types of treatment are needed.
This is said by Lars Lin, president of the Norwegian Psychiatric Association.
He notes that research abroad shows TMS is a gentle treatment with relatively few side effects.
Since only about 60 percent of patients in Norway are known to benefit from medication and talk therapy, Lien thinks it’s important that Norway also come out on top with this type of treatment.
Lars Lien of the Norwegian Psychiatric Association thinks it is important to have more treatment for depression in Norway.
Photo: Frøy Lode Wiig
Lien points out that Norway is often rather slow in using new medicines and forms of treatment.
– It’s a disgrace to the sick. Therefore, it is important that you do such studies as in Tromsø, where you look at patients who have an effect. He says knowing who has a good effect on this treatment at an early stage is very important.
With the study in Tromsø, it is hoped that we will be able to find commonalities in patients who respond positively to magnetic pulses, so that in the future one can give The best individually tailored treatment possible For people with depression.
If you are in the 22-65 age group, live in Tromsø and suffer from depression, you can contact the patient or via website to study.
– We’re ready to start, says Urbo.
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