Radioelectric brain stimulation in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder with comorbid major depression in a psychiatric hospital: a pilot study

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is often presented with major depression (MD). GAD-MD can be a chronic and disabling condition, and patients suffering from this disorder often respond poorly to psychopharmacological treatment and experience side effects with medication. Therefore, there is a high...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment 2011-01, Vol.7 (1), p.449-455
Main Authors: Olivieri, Elisabetta Bourget, Vecchiato, Caterina, Ignaccolo, Nunziatina, Mannu, Piero, Castagna, Alessandro, Aravagli, Lucia, Fontani, Vania, Rinaldi, Salvatore
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
anxiety disorders
Comorbidity
depressive disorder
Drug therapy
Generalized anxiety disorder
Long-term effects
Mental depression
Original Research
psychiatric somatic therapies
radioelectric asymmetric brain stimulation
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Summary:Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is often presented with major depression (MD). GAD-MD can be a chronic and disabling condition, and patients suffering from this disorder often respond poorly to psychopharmacological treatment and experience side effects with medication. Therefore, there is a high demand for effective nonpharmacological therapy for GAD-MD patients. The current study explores the use of a radioelectric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) device in the treatment of GAD-MD. Participants were 24 patients diagnosed with GAD-MD being treated at a public psychiatric center. All patients were dissatisfied with their current pharmacological treatment. Patients were evaluated using the 21-item Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) rating scale and the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90R) before and after REAC brain stimulation treatment cycles. After REAC brain stimulation treatment, all patients experienced a significant reduction in anxiety and depression. These results were confirmed by physician examination, HAM-D scores, and SCL-90R total scores. These results indicate a role for REAC brain stimulation in the management of psychiatric conditions, specifically, GAD-MD comorbidity. REAC treatments are synergistic to drug therapy and appear to be helpful in reducing the side effects of medication. Future studies should evaluate the long-term effects of REAC treatment.
ISSN:1176-6328
1178-2021
1176-6328
DOI:10.2147/NDT.S23420