By Amy Kennard
If you talk to anyone who has been diagnosed with depression, most will say that it’s a complex mental health disease. While relatively simple to diagnose, its treatment methods tend to be trial and error. The same can be said for the treatment of ADHD, though its diagnosis is sometimes a “best guess” as the criteria is quite subjective and prone to error.
Two new options are paving the way for better diagnosis and treatment for both of these conditions: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for depression and the Quotient® ADHD System for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS is a safe, painless, noninvasive procedure that delivers magnetic pulses to the areas of the brain that are underactive in patients with depression. These pulses actually change the magnetic field in the prefrontal cortex of the brain and stimulate neurons within the mood center, yet are no stronger than the magnetic pulses delivered during an MRI.
While used mostly for individuals who have not responded to antidepressants, it is also for those who wish to avoid the side effects frequently caused by some antidepressant medications.
Dr. Anjum Bashir is the only area psychiatrist who offers this FDA-approved outpatient treatment. “It’s a simple, non-invasive procedure that is administered in our office,” he explained. “It normally takes around 40 minutes and has no reported side effects of some of the traditional medications used for depression.”
While the frequency of the treatments can vary depending on the need, the standard duration for a course of TMS is 30 sessions.
Quotient ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is defined as “A persistent or ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity in children and adults that gets in the way of daily life or typical development.” The symptoms may include difficulty paying attention, staying organized and motivated, managing tasks, and remembering things.
The problem is, these are also the symptoms of a myriad of other physical and mental health conditions, which, in the case of children, can include the normal aspects of being a “spirited child.”
The Quotient ADHD System was approved by the FDA in 2002 and objectively measures the level and severity of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in a person compared to those the same age and gender. It is a useful tool in helping clinicians accurately diagnose and manage ADHD.
The test is easily administered and takes less than half an hour to complete. It uses advanced motion tracking technology to track an individual’s micro movements while they complete a standardized test. The results, including pattern of motion, accuracy of responses, and fluctuations in attention state, are analyzed and scored using proprietary algorithms which provide valuable insight that can be used for both diagnosis and condition treatment options.
“The benefits to this system are not only that we can better diagnose ADHD — with a greater than 90 percent accuracy — but that we can tailor an individual’s treatment more specifically,” said Dr. Bashir.
For more information on TMS for Depression or Quotient Testing for ADHD, contact Anjum Bashir, MD at 217-422-0027. He is one of the few physicians in Central Illinois offering these therapies. He sees many patients from the Bloomington area in his Decatur office, located at 1900 E. Lake Shore Dr. TMS therapy is covered by many insurance companies including BCBS.