Electromagnetic Therapy For Depression and Anxiety Treatment

Conditions like depression and anxiety can greatly affect the quality of life for people grappling with these issues. The treatments of depression are either ineffective or not equally efficient for everyone. Over the years, people have tried different treatments of depression and anxiety. While some people are more interested in finding a non-drug option to manage their chronic pain, others are clueless about the kind of cure to resort to. Research and development in this field have led to the discovery of different types of electromagnetic therapy for depression and anxiety treatment that can be prescribed depending on one’s health concerns. Some of these techniques are:

1. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
2. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS)
3. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF)

Let’s go through these to understand how electromagnetic therapy for depression and anxiety works. 

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

In March 2023, UCLA published an article highlighting the effect and benefits of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a mode of electromagnetic therapy for depression and anxiety treatment. 

Using TMS for depression helps increase neuroplasticity, or the ability to form new pathways in the brain, allowing the patient to get out of a depressive rut or reduce the odds of a major depressive episode (MDE). 

In TMS, an electromagnetic coil placed against the scalp creates a magnetic field that stimulates certain areas of the brain. 

In the process of transcranial magnetic stimulation, specialized electromagnets positioned on the cranium emit precise magnetic pulses aimed at inducing the stimulation and restoration of cerebral networks responsible for mood modulation. 

TMS for depression obtained regulatory clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008 for addressing major depressive disorder.

There are 2 major types of TMS approaches: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (deep TMS). The difference between the two lies in the design of the coil employed. The deep TMS coil is designed to target more extensive and profound cerebral regions as opposed to rTMS. 

dTMS has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and also in aiding in smoking cessation. For the same, it has been granted FDA approval. 

Beyond its authorized applications, TMS is also being explored for off-label utilization in managing chronic pain and tinnitus, an auditory condition characterized by persistent ringing.  

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS)

There are numerous studies and published articles demonstrating the efficacy of another mode of electromagnetic therapy for depression and anxiety treatment: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). TENS for depression is a relatively novel method of pain relief involving the use of a mild electrical current. 

Numerous studies have demonstrated that transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) can generate therapeutic outcomes akin to those achieved through its invasive equivalent, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). 

While VNS is an FDA-approved therapeutic approach for managing depression and epilepsy, it is confined to addressing more severe cases that are resistant to initial interventions, and is considered as a secondary or tertiary treatment due to the perioperative risks tied to the implantation of the device. 

Conversely, tVNS is a non-invasive methodology involving the administration of electrical currents through surface electrodes placed at specific locations. The most common targets are the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) and the cervical branch of the vagus nerve in the neck. 

Currently, there are two primary techniques for administering tVNS. 

The first  method involves the superficial application of stimulation to the cervical nerve using a specially designed apparatus like GammaCore, while the alternative approach entails applying stimulation to the ear. The electrical signals delivered during this process have the potential to diminish the pain signals transmitted to the spinal cord and brain, potentially leading to pain alleviation and muscle relaxation. 

Additionally, they could prompt the release of endorphins, which serve as the body’s innate pain-relieving agents. 

While TENS for depression has shown multiple instances of success of managing depression and epilepsy, it is also being investigated for treating a wide variety of mental health disorders including headache, tinnitus, atrial fibrillation, post-error slowing, prosocial behavior, associative memory, schizophrenia, and pain. 

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF)

Electromagnetic therapy for depression treatment also includes:  Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). This FDA approved treatment of depression and anxiety has been found to change brainwave patterns through a process known as entrainment. 

Entrainment of brain rhythms and conditioned brain response refers to the observation that brainwaves (large-scale electrical oscillations in the brain) will naturally synchronize to the rhythm of periodic external stimuli, such as flickering lights, speech, music, or tactile stimuli.

PEMF for depression employs electromagnetic fields to rejuvenate the body’s intrinsic healing processes and enhance cellular well-being.

PEMF devices are available in a range of intensities and dimensions. Within these devices, the PEMF coils produce an electromagnetic field. There is no need for concern regarding the potential penetration of electricity into the body, as it remains confined to the coil. 

PEMF for depression is based on Faraday’s principle, a fundamental law of electromagnetism that anticipates the interaction between a magnetic field and an electric circuit, resulting in the generation of an electromotive force recognized as electromagnetic induction. Thus, it is key to understand three key parameters to deliver an accurate PEMF dosage: frequency, intensity, and duration/time of exposure. 

PEMF intervenes in inflammatory mechanisms by controlling the release of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines at various phases of the inflammatory reaction. 

Cohesive results in investigations encompassing both animal and human tissue have indicated potential for utilizing PEMF as an alternative or supplementary approach to pharmaceutical treatments. 

Consequently, PEMF therapy holds the potential to introduce an innovative non-pharmaceutical avenue for regulating inflammation in damaged tissues, leading to improved functional recuperation. Employing PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic fields) for the modulation of cell signaling mechanisms implicated in the inflammatory and immune response pathways of diverse cell categories has emerged as a pioneering substitute in the quest for regenerative interventions.

Electromagnetic Therapy For Depression: Conclusion

After being treated as a topic of stigma and social taboo for so many years, mental health in the past few years, is finally being studied and understood by more people than it ever was. These novel treatments of depression provide both invasive and non-invasive treatment techniques. Although clinical trials, studies and research show promising results, it is important to understand that not all methods show consistent efficacy across all patients. It is also important to investigate possible drawbacks or side effects of each of these electromagnetic therapies. 

In case of a major depressive episode, consult a professional and seek their advice on the best course of treatment for you. 

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