[Airway]

Anyone else heard of the possibilty of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) as a treatment for depression? See article here.

I've had three MRIs in my lifetime, and I swear I have experienced this benefit. It seems that I feel better for several months after spending 20 minutes or so in this machine. I've joked with my psychiatrist about sending me for an MRI every few months so I don't have to take medication. Although I'm not sure an MRI would be more cost effective.

[Perna]

They're not like regular MRI's, EP-MRSI, that was tested with bipolar subjects.

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/.../161/1/93?etoc

Haven't seen anything recent on it.

[(JD)]

There's no real documentation of this yet. http://www.newstarget.com/005843.html I've had many MRIs and during some really dark times....didn't seem to make a difference

[Perna]

It's only been tested for Bipolar depression which is different from regular and sufferers usually aren't given meds for the depression, only the mania because depression meds often cause bipolars to swing over into mania.

There's serious experiments that have been done as the Journal of Psychiatry article references.

http://www.mclean.harvard.edu/resear...maryepmrsi.php

http://www.goldcoastdbsa.com/research/mri.php

[(JD)]

There appears to also be something regarding using MRI scanning to spot those with unipolar depression who will improve with CBT. Sounds like things are on the horizon from all this.

[Perna]

Yes, I saw that. Very interesting. An even different kind of MRI (how many are there? LOL, now I have to go find that out)

http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=9334

[(JD)]

Perhaps it's more of the "functional" with contrast versus a static one?

I am a very "magnetic" person, so to speak, as my aura goes out about 20' and interferes with electronics. It would be kewl if I could learn to control that, and utilize it for health.

[Perna]

Oh, my, check this out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1154043.stm

lots of different neuroimaging techniques but some left out of one article or another, hard to tell what's what and what's future, etc.

http://www.hhmi.org/senses/e210.html

Then there's our own PC discussing ESP :-)

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/01...-esp/1739.html

[pachyderm]

MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an imaging technique, not a treatment. There may be derivatives that attempt to produce effects by similar means, using magnets and radio-frequency radiation. I am not familiar with those.

Is this another attempt to find The Magic Bullet that will solve all problems?