Depression Without Medicine - New Treatment at Dent Neurological Institute

Depression is a devastating brain illness that affects millions of Americans, their families and even their employers. People with depression may exhibit such symptoms as problems with sleep, appetite, level of energy, and concentration. They may show a lack of motivation, unusual feelings of guilt, and experience sadness or irritability. This is now well understood to be a problem in how the brain is functioning. Despite this, many people still don’t seek treatment largely because of feelings of shame. Unlike strokes or seizures where the signs of brain dysfunction become clearly visible to us, depression is not so obvious. Perhaps this is why people think differently about depression and sometimes attach stigma to the diagnosis.

Recently, a new treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was approved by the FDA for people who do not respond to treatment with an antidepressant. TMS makes use of magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain in a specific area known to be involved with depression. This treatment occurs while the individual is fully conscious right in the comfort of the doctor’s office. It is very well tolerated and produces little or no side effects at all.

The Dent Neurologic Institute’s Division of Neuropsychiatry under the direction of Dr. Horacio Capote is the sole provider of this modality in Western New York. Currently, there are approximately 200 providers across the country. Dr. Capote reports that these first 14 months of providing this treatment have been quite gratifying. He says it has been very satisfying to be able to offer such an effective treatment to people who had almost given up hope. He looks forward to helping many more as word of this technology spreads.

Although the FDA indication is for medication resistant depression, recent studies have focused on other groups of patients such as women with post-partum depression who don’t want to pass on antidepressants to the baby while breastfeeding or patients on chemotherapy who are already on multiple medications. In short, a variety of different uses for this treatment are being explored because it is so safe. The coming years will likely see an explosion of other uses for this treatment. Dr. Capote and his team at The Dent Neurologic Institute, with its active involvement in research, will be at the cutting edge. He says that their involvement in clinical trials comes from a desire to provide our patients with the best possible outcomes there are.

It should be noted that treatment of depression is complex and multifaceted. Exercise, nutrition, psychotherapy, social interaction, medications and a myriad of other factors are all important contributors to the treatment of depression. This article is meant to describe a very new and exciting treatment alternative for depression and by no means is meant to diminish the importance of these other issues.

If you have an interest in finding out more about TMS or becoming involved in one of the many research projects currently being conducted, call the Dent Neurologic Institute at 716-250-2000 and the courteous staff there will do their best to address your needs. Even though other treatments haven’t worked in the past, there is hope. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

WNY Resource:

Horatio Capote, M.D. is the Medical Director of the Division of Neuropsychiatry at Dent Neurologic Institute in Amherst. See http://www.dentinstitute.com/new.html.

To learn more about TMS see http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/mind-control-TMS.html

NeuroStar TMS has been included in the American Museum of Natural History’s new exhibit called Brain: The Inside Story. NeuroStar TMS was selected to be included in the exhibit as it is one of the most innovative brain treatments available today. Brain: The Inside Story combines Museum research focus on evolutionary history and the diversity of life with the recent explosion in technology that is giving scientists a deeper understanding of brain chemistry and function, says Michael Novacek, Senior Vice President and Provost for Science at the Museum. For instance, we illustrate how some of the basic components of the human brain, such as the limbic system that allows communication and social behavior, are also found in other mammals. For more information on the exhibit go to:
http://www.amnh.org/news/2010/11/first-look-at-brain-the-inside-story/

See the following video for more information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMJJ3DpzXdk&feature=player_embedded#at=1

New DENT Dizziness and Balance Center Brings Hope, World Class Diagnostics and Treatment

by Annette Pinder

Have you ever felt dizzy or lightheaded? Lost your balance? Experienced vertigo (a feeling of spinning)? 

One in 3 people will have dizziness or balance dysfunction during their life time. They are the number 1 complaint of patients over age 70 and number 3 complaint of all patients (after headache and lower back pain).

Twenty million Americans visit the emergency room each year for fall related injuries, and balance-related falls account for more than half of the accidental deaths in the elderly. These problems have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life and overall safety. Imagine the world spinning around you constantly.

According to Lixin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Dizziness and Balance Center at Buffalo’s Dent Neurologic Institute, 90 percent of all causes of dizziness can be identified with a thorough evaluation. Even more impressive is his assertion that 90 percent of dizziness and imbalance, once diagnosed, can be treated successfully. Yet many people suffer much longer than they should. Years can go by without an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In fact, preliminary data at the Center reveals their new patients had an average 55 months of dizziness, multiple physician and ER visits, and various tests without resolution before their first evaluation.

The most common problem causing dizziness and vertigo is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Dr. Zhang says BPPV is caused by crystals to fall into the inner ear canal and resolving this can take only minutes by positioning the patient’s head correctly to reposition the crystals. Patients are often amazed at how quickly and simply their symptoms may be resolved. The second most common dizziness or lightheadedness is called phobic postural vertigo. These patients tend to have feeling of imbalance, or fear of falling, especially under stress, in the crowded places like church, grocery store or shopping mall. Other common problems treated as the dizziness center include migraine associated vertigo, Menieres disease, peripheral or central vestibulopathies and imbalance/fall related problems. Dr. Zhang adds that with extensive diagnostic information, we can provide a fairly specific diagnosis, and treatment protocols. Our successful rate is above 90 percent. Even for patients without much improvement, specific reasons may be identified.

Dr. Zhang is able to provide comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment all in one location. The treatment is mainly the combination of non-sedative dizziness preventive medications and vestibular therapy. Since the Center opened nearly two years ago, more than 1,000 patients have been evaluated and treated. Prior to that, Western New Yorkers had to travel to The Cleveland Clinic, or elsewhere in the U.S. to receive these same tests. The Center is offering Computerized Dynamic Posturography, the state-of-art technology developed for NASA astronauts, to evaluate patients with unexplained falls or an imbalance condition. The technology may also provide objective data to assess the ability for a patient to return to a normal lifestyle following a sports concussion or work-related injuries.

Lixin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. is the Medical Director of The Dizziness and Balance Center DENT Neurological Institute 716-250-2000 www.dentinstitute.com/zhang.html. He is accepting new patients.