As depression rates in the U.S. remain historically high, doctors in Sacramento are exploring innovative treatments to help those struggling with mental health challenges.Felicia Johnson, who has faced a difficult mental health journey, said she was “kind of out of options” before trying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Now, she’s undergoing the treatment five days a week for about six weeks.Dr. Alya Ahmad has offered TMS at ShaMynds Healing Center in Sacramento for about a year. “It helps align those neurons so that they communicate on the same signal,” Ahmad said. She compared TMS to restarting a computer, but for the brain. “When the computer starts misfiring, you turn it off a little bit and you restart it and you can synchronize that rhythm,” Ahmad said.According to researchers at Harvard Medical School, as many as 50% to 70% of people who try TMS experience a reduction in depression symptoms, even when other treatments have failed. Ahmad said, “The conditions have become so complex and ingrained that they want to try something different.” Meanwhile, researchers at UC Davis are testing a new drug similar to LSD but without the hallucinogenic effects. Dr. David Olson explained, “These drugs are not psychedelics. They were inspired by the neurobiology of psychedelics, but they are completely new compounds.” “It turns out that LSD is very good at promoting the growth of these neurons and has the potential for repair,” he said. Olson added that the drug could treat a range of illnesses, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. “Our goal is really to create new medicines that repair damaged neural circuitry so that patients don’t have to be on drugs for the rest of their lives,” Olson said. For Johnson, the TMS treatments at ShaMynds have made a significant difference. “My depression is definitely in remission, and I’m doing a lot better than I was,” she said.Ahmad echoed the sentiment, saying, “Just because you’ve been labeled as treatment resistant doesn’t mean that you are resistant. It means that something else is possible. And there are other options for that.” TMS is typically covered by insurance for individuals who have already tried other antidepressants. It has also shown promise in treating OCD and migraines. There are some potential side effects, including seizures which are rare. The experimental drug inspired by LSD is still in the testing phase, but researchers believe it could someday help people recover from traumatic brain injuries.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
As depression rates in the U.S. remain historically high, doctors in Sacramento are exploring innovative treatments to help those struggling with mental health challenges.
Felicia Johnson, who has faced a difficult mental health journey, said she was “kind of out of options” before trying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Now, she’s undergoing the treatment five days a week for about six weeks.
Dr. Alya Ahmad has offered TMS at ShaMynds Healing Center in Sacramento for about a year.
“It helps align those neurons so that they communicate on the same signal,” Ahmad said.
She compared TMS to restarting a computer, but for the brain.
“When the computer starts misfiring, you turn it off a little bit and you restart it and you can synchronize that rhythm,” Ahmad said.
According to researchers at Harvard Medical School, as many as 50% to 70% of people who try TMS experience a reduction in depression symptoms, even when other treatments have failed.
Ahmad said, “The conditions have become so complex and ingrained that they want to try something different.”
Meanwhile, researchers at UC Davis are testing a new drug similar to LSD but without the hallucinogenic effects.
Dr. David Olson explained, “These drugs are not psychedelics. They were inspired by the neurobiology of psychedelics, but they are completely new compounds.”
“It turns out that LSD is very good at promoting the growth of these neurons and has the potential for repair,” he said.
Olson added that the drug could treat a range of illnesses, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
“Our goal is really to create new medicines that repair damaged neural circuitry so that patients don’t have to be on drugs for the rest of their lives,” Olson said.
For Johnson, the TMS treatments at ShaMynds have made a significant difference.
“My depression is definitely in remission, and I’m doing a lot better than I was,” she said.
Ahmad echoed the sentiment, saying, “Just because you’ve been labeled as treatment resistant doesn’t mean that you are resistant. It means that something else is possible. And there are other options for that.”
TMS is typically covered by insurance for individuals who have already tried other antidepressants. It has also shown promise in treating OCD and migraines. There are some potential side effects, including seizures which are rare.
The experimental drug inspired by LSD is still in the testing phase, but researchers believe it could someday help people recover from traumatic brain injuries.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel