New Magnetic Therapy for Depression Could Help Reduce Paxil Birth Defects

Washington, DCA new breakthrough in the treatment of depression could help reduce the occurrence of Paxil birth defects by providing an alternative route to mental stability.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">Dubbed "transcranial magnetic stimulation" (TMS), the new procedure introduces magnetic currents into the brain in an attempt to activate pleasure centers and ease distress. Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, all but confirmed the procedure's potential after finding that the odds of a patient achieving depression remission with the TMS procedure were 4.2 times greater than those of the control group that did not receive the treatment.

During the second phase of testing, the treatment was given to the entire focus group, 30 percent of whom reported recovering from their depression.

Analysts believe that this new drugless procedure could be particularly beneficial for pregnant women who are suffering from depression, as the procedure removes the risk of serious birth defects in the unborn child common in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications like Paxil. These medications have been linked to conditions like Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in the Newborn, increased violence in children and suicidal behavior.