Deerfield medical researchers have just received a patent on their world’s first widely published treatment for chronic pain, severe depression, addictions, and other common conditions.
The patent is titled “Treatment of Thalmacortical Dysrthythmia with Infused Ketamine and Concurrent TMS.”
That treatment helped 28-year-old Patrick recover from a suicidal depression. He says,
“Almost immediately my depression was lifted and my anxiety was pretty much out the window”
Researchers at the Neuroscience Center in Deerfield pioneered the therapy and have now treated dozens of patients with treatment resistant pain, depression, and other mental disorders.
“Over 90% of those patients have been able to reach some form of remission,” says Steven Best M.D. “That means the person is able to return to work, not be on disability, they’re able to repair broken marriages, and resume their lives. So far results have lasted up to three years.” Dr. Best is a psychiatrist and Neuroscience Center Director.
Such results have attracted worldwide attention. Five global mainstream medical journals have published the center’s world’s first results in the last year. The journals include the International Journal of Neuroscience, and the Journal of ECT.
The 20 minute treatment consists of two medically accepted therapies used simultaneously. First patients receive a high dose of intravenous Ketamine. At that dose the drug has a known “dissociative” effect i.e. it causes detached dream-like “out of body” experiences. At the same time patients receive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a helmet-like device that produces a magnetic field in the brain. TMS is a well-accepted treatment for depression, migraines, and chronic pain.
Dan Pavel M.D. says, “The two treatments together have a synergistic effect. We’re not sure why, but one clue may be we’ve found that used together they dramatically increase blood flow to the brain.” Dr .Pavel was formerly Professor and Director of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Illinois Medical Center.
Patients generally receive a series of the combined treatments over several weeks or months. Because of the high Ketamine dose, an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist must be present during all sessions.
Patrick says the resulting sensation is like no other. “There’s a true separation between your mind and your physical state,” he says. Your brain literally feels like its left your body and is off wandering on its own. When you emerge, though, you feel like a different person.”
So far the Neuroscience Center has been carefully screening its first patients. However researchers say the new treatment could one day benefit millions. They point out up to half the 20 million Americans with major depression are treatment resistant, In addition about 40% of all Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain.
“We’re delighted with the international reception this treatment has received,” says Dr. Best. “Frankly, all this recognition has been thrilling. The next step is to bring this treatment to neurological centers around the globe.”
The Neuroscience Center is located at 440 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield (847-236-9310) Their web site address is www.neuroscience.md
