Helmet Sends Magnetic Pulses To Treat Depression

A helmet that sends magnetic pulses to the brain is easing the symptoms of patients with depression and anxiety.

The Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) treatment, developed by Israeli company BrainsWay, was tested on 1,753 patients suffering from depression and anxiety. 

A study found 82 percent of patients who received 30 or more 20-minute treatments experienced improvements in their symptoms. 

Outcomes were measured with clinician-based scales and/or patient questionnaires, and showed that the average patient responded to the treatment after 16 sessions, or 21 days after starting the treatment.

The non-invasive procedure uses magnetic fields to stimulate cells in the region of the brain involved in mood control and depression, and is typically used when other treatments haven’t been effective. An electromagnetic coil is normally placed against the scalp and near the forehead. 

BrainsWay says its patented design enables deeper and broader stimulation than traditional TMS coils and is aimed at patients with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and smoking addiction.

“BrainsWay is pleased to share this real-world evidence on Deep TMS, as it further validates the immense potential of this treatment in addressing the global mental health crisis,” said Hadar Levy, CEO.

“The average patient in this data analysis had already failed more than seven medication trials in their lifetime, and it is exciting to see that patients undergoing a full course of treatment achieved such significant outcomes. These results embolden us in our mission to improve health and transform lives.”

Aron Tendler, chief medical officer, said: “These findings are truly notable. Keeping in mind that these are patients who have not had success with other treatment modalities, it is compelling to see that four out of five patients in real-world settings achieved at least a 50 percent reduction in their depression symptoms.

“Furthermore, nearly three out of four were found to have reached remission based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a gold standard clinician-administered measurement tool.”

BrainsWay was founded in 2003, and has offices in Jerusalem, and in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA.