One of the major signs and symptoms of depression is insomnia, or trouble sleeping. It occurs in 50-90% of depressed patients, and it occurs not only because of depression but also the traditional treatment. Many antidepressants prescribed today can stimulate the patient, making it hard to sleep, or they cause fatigue during the day, disrupting sleep patterns. Scientists found, however, that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation was an effective treatment for depression that had no negative impact on the sleep habits of the patients.
TMS treatment targets the prefrontal cortex of the brain, the part involved in mood regulating as well as planning, evaluating, and decision-making. The treatment uses a magnet similar in strength to an MRI to send pulses into the brain, stimulating it and putting it to work. The technique is FDA approved for the treatment of depression and has shown time and time again it’s effectiveness. Furthermore, the technique has yet to cause sleep issues for anyone receiving treatment.
With depression in particular, any treatment that does not further negatively affect the sleep habits of a patient should be considered. Improving the quality of sleep may help positively with symptoms of depression.
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