Alternative Biological Treatment
Electroconvulsive Therapy
It is used in:
Severe depression especially in elderly
People who may present an immediate and serious suicidal risk including those with
psychotic or melancholic features.
In patients who are resistant to medication or the ones that cannot take anti-
depressants
In manic episodes, in maintenance of mood-stabilizing drugs
Complete remission can occur in 6-12 treatments. So, the majority of severely depressed
patients become better in 3-5 weeks.
Treatment with seizures under completely anesthesia and muscle relaxants
Side effects: Confusion mainly but sometimes more long lasting cognitive effects like
amnesia and slowed response time.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Non-invasive technique with focal stimulation of brain in awake patients, thousand
stimulations in each session. Mostly used in unipolar.
5 days/week, for 2-6 weeks
Effective compared to ECT, antidepressants
Safely in children, adolescents since it has mild headache and scalp discomfort
Deep Brain Stimulation
Treatment for people with refractory depression who have not responded to other types of
treatment like medication, psychotherapy, ECT.
Process: Implanting an electrode in the brain and then stimulating the area
Mostly for unrelated depression
Bright Light Therapy
Initially it was used for seasonal affective disorder treatment but it is effective in non-
seasonal disorders as well
Vagus Nerve Therapy
For resistant depression. Implantation of electrodes in Vagus nerve and stimulation
Electroconvulsive Therapy
It is used in:
Severe depression especially in elderly
People who may present an immediate and serious suicidal risk including those with
psychotic or melancholic features.
In patients who are resistant to medication or the ones that cannot take anti-
depressants
In manic episodes, in maintenance of mood-stabilizing drugs
Complete remission can occur in 6-12 treatments. So, the majority of severely depressed
patients become better in 3-5 weeks.
Treatment with seizures under completely anesthesia and muscle relaxants
Side effects: Confusion mainly but sometimes more long lasting cognitive effects like
amnesia and slowed response time.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Non-invasive technique with focal stimulation of brain in awake patients, thousand
stimulations in each session. Mostly used in unipolar.
5 days/week, for 2-6 weeks
Effective compared to ECT, antidepressants
Safely in children, adolescents since it has mild headache and scalp discomfort
Deep Brain Stimulation
Treatment for people with refractory depression who have not responded to other types of
treatment like medication, psychotherapy, ECT.
Process: Implanting an electrode in the brain and then stimulating the area
Mostly for unrelated depression
Bright Light Therapy
Initially it was used for seasonal affective disorder treatment but it is effective in non-
seasonal disorders as well
Vagus Nerve Therapy
For resistant depression. Implantation of electrodes in Vagus nerve and stimulation
