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Treating the Toughest Cases of Depression and Brain Illness

TMS/ketamine

TMS/ketamine combination therapy

Ketamine infusion facilitated by TMS for treatment of long-standing dysphoric depression with co-morbid anxiety, or with chronic phantom pain.

by Steve Best, M.D.

For many years I provided TMS/rTMS in a private setting with great success. Nevertheless, I became ever more dissatisfied with the heavy human-burden on patients & their families/occupation. This clinic specializes in evaluating and treating patients who have already failed to achieve adequate recovery in spite of many attempts and multiple modalities. Because this clinic specializes in evaluating and treating patients who have already failed to achieve adequate recovery in spite of many attempts and multiple modalities I am always on the search for “something better”.

I now believe I have happened upon a particularly effective treatment for long-standing & intensely dysphoric depression. Some years ago, I became aware of the likely synergistic effect of ketamine and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (on focal CNS function). After discussion with a number of scientific advisors I moved forward with the project and began the treatment process on 28 patients. Of these patients, 85% have developed highly significant relief from otherwise un-remitting misery. 2 patients dropped out of the program – one was diagnosed with a horrible illness and the other for personal reasons unrelated to the treatment.

It is my belief that brain metabolism is a better way to approach neurophysiologically relevant diagnosis & thereby guide the treatment of disabling neuropsychiatric disorders like depression, OCD, bipolar depression or chronic pain.

Each of our patients has already undergone lengthy psychopharmacologic intervention (before and sometimes during treatment in this clinic). Many had already undergone Psychiatric treatments including long-term psychotherapy, hospital-based treatment or even unusual CAM treatments such as nutrient-based or hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Uncomfortable experiences such as fear or disorientation/dissociation of experience occurred in 40% patients. None of the remaining adverse effects foretold a good or bad outcome, and none persisted for more than a few minutes. Most patients were able to walk/talk/jest within a few minutes after the 30-minute procedure ended. All of the patients were treated using conventional pre-anesthesia guidelines like not eating, and all were able to eat without consequence here in the clinic within an hour after the ketamine infusion.

One startling lesson from the efficacy of this technique both highlights is the similarity of the painful emotional illnesses and chronic “phantom” pain. It also underlines the clinical utility of improving neuropsychiatric status by directly intervening to improve cerebral blood flow. I believe it holds great promise as both a research tool and in the compassionate treatment of otherwise treatment-resistant patients.

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