System-Wide Magnet Therapy in Depression Treatment

Abstract

Study purpose. Study of the system-wide magnetic therapy efficacy in major depressive disorder treatment. Materials and methods. Depression patients were assigned to two groups: the control group and the main one. The control group underwent conventional antidepressant treatment while for the main group conventional treatment was combined with system-wide magnetic therapy. In the course of treatment, patients were exposed to a variable-amplitude rotating magnetic field with 2,2 MT induction and 100 Hz current frequency for 30 minutes. The treatment efficacy was evaluated on the Hamilton scale after 4 weeks of treatment. Results and Conclusion. The number of patients (responders) in remission,  7 points on the Hamilton scale, was significantly greater in the main group than it was in the control one: 18 and 28 in the control group and the main group, respectively (p < 0,01). Significant (by over 50 %) reduction in six symptoms was achieved in the main group: suicidal thoughts (80,65 %), critical attitude to the disease (75,0 %), late insomnia (72,5 %), early insomnia (70,91 %), agitation (53,16 %). Symptoms decreased by 35,84 % and 50,91 % in the control group and the main group, respectively (p < 0,05), by total scores on the Hamilton scale. The treatment efficacy under CNE was 0,643 and 0,491 in the control group and the main group, respectively, and as 0,491 < 0,643, we proved statistically that treatment in the main group is significantly more effective (p = 0,000021). With the procedure being well tolerated and causing no adverse effects during treatment, this depression treatment method can be recommended for clinical practice.