Thanks to major breakthroughs in research and fieldwork, a number of mental health treatments have been developed to safely and effectively treat MDD. Among them is Deep TMS, which was developed to address unmet needs that arose from legacy MDD treatments:

Medical Device Treatments: A number of cutting-edge medical technologies treat depression, with ECT, TMS, and Deep TMS gaining professional recognition.

ECT: Electroconvulsive therapy induces a brief set of seizures that stimulate the brain’s neural activity. Originally used to treat schizophrenia, ECT was eventually found to help alleviate severe depression, and today is primarily used to treat this condition. Though highly effective, ECT is not for everyone. It requires full sedation under anesthesia, which complicates the recovery process. Its side effects can be severe and include short-term memory loss. And due to a spread of misinformation surrounding this treatment, many patients are wary of trying it out.

Traditional rTMS: Available to the public since 2008, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a noninvasive treatment for depression. The procedure sends out electromagnetic pulses from a figure-8-shaped handheld device, used to regulate the neural activity of brain structures found to be involved in depression. While rTMS has been clinically shown to be a safe and effective treatment option, this original, traditional form of TMS has certain limitations: The figure-8 coil’s relatively narrow scope means only a focal brain structure can be regulated at any given moment, causing targeting issues to arise during treatment. Standard rTMS also has trouble stimulating deeper structures directly, which can further affect its efficacy.

Deep TMS: Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is an advancement on the standard, figure-8 rTMS treatment that manages to address the concerns raised with its predecessor. Deep TMS is also a noninvasive treatment that utilizes a magnetic field to safely and effectively regulate the neural activity of brain structures associated with depression, in addition to other forms of mental illness. Deep TMS does not require anesthesia or recovery, and can therefore be incorporated into an individual’s daily routine.

Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, refers to speaking with a mental health professional to better understand one’s experiences and increase their wellbeing. Forms of psychotherapy commonly used to treat depression include psychodynamics, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Support groups for patients and their primary care providers have also been shown to offer relief.

Psychopharmacology: Several classes of medication have been shown to successfully treat depression. They include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Though psychopharmacology is a generally effective MDD treatment, it can cause side effects such as weight gain or sexual dysfunction, and many patients are found to be treatment-resistant.

Lifestyle Changes to Protect Against MDD: While the above-mentioned factors are more stable fixtures, choosing to implement certain lifestyle changes can also help ward off depression. These include: adopting a Mediterranean diet rich with fruit, vegetables, olive oil and fish; participating in exercise to help release mood-elevating endorphins, strengthen self-worth and distract from depressive triggers; replenishing your energy levels through a good night’s sleep; and developing a balanced work-rest-play dynamic.