Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Kemal Arıkan › Articles

Articles

How Long Does it Take for TMS to be Effective?

Despite the fact that there is no conclusive information about how long it takes for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to be effective, the studies conducted give us an idea.’ Although the time needed to take benefit from the treatment varies based on the method of treatment, the course of the disorder, and the person.

A Combination of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Antidepressants

There are many studies regarding the simultaneous use of repetitive TMS (rTMS), which is offered as an alternative to pharmacological treatments used in the treatment of the mood disorders like depression and anxiety, along with the drugs. The studies were mainly carried out on rats, for which a depression or anxiety model was created.

TMS and Panic Disorders

Panic disorder is one of the most common anxiety disorders. The patients are generally resistant to drugs and psychotherapy, which can turn the disorder in a chronic and preventive manner. Thus, new methods have been researched for the treatment of panic disorder. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) having a therapeutic effect on the pathological neuronal activity in the brain is one of them.

The Stroop Tests

The Stroop tests are included under the neuropsychological tests title. These tests measure the brain’s capabilities of channeling the attention, conceptual flexibility, and the mind’s operational speed.

Recent developments on panic disorder

In this article, the recent studies made on panic disorders are summarized. The age range where panic disorder is observed the most is 20-29, and it was founded that the rate of prevalence in women of these ages is two times higher than that of men. Nevertheless, it was observed that the differential between women and men reduced as the age progresses. In addition to the gender and age factors, low socio-economic level is also known to be a risk factor.

Panic Disorder and its Treatment

The first step of the panic disorder treatment is to inform the patient about panic and its treatment. As it is considered that being informed about panic disorder and its symptoms has a healing effect, reliable books and other sources of information can be presented.