Why is Deep TMU (Deep TMS) important in addiction treatment?
Prof.Dr.Nesrin Dilbaz, who gave information about Deep TMU application, stated that "Since addiction is a difficult disease to treat, it is important to regulate the brain regions that are impaired in the treatment". Today, it is known that addiction is a chronic and recurrent brain disease like schizophrenia or a chronic disease with long-term treatment like diabetes. Addiction is not caused by a lack of willpower, a lack of personality or moral weakness. It is caused by changes in hormones called neurotransmitters such as dopamine in the areas called reward centers located deep in the brain. Powerful treatments such as deep brain stimulation can be effective in reversing these changes.
Deep TMU (Deep TMS) applications in addiction treatment:
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz said, "The goal of addiction treatment is firstly to eliminate the alcohol/substance from the body and then to reduce the desire/craving (craving) for this substance. Almost half of addiction patients have difficulty in coping with the desire to use alcohol/substances despite treatment methods such as medication, psychotherapy, family therapy, which are still being applied in the treatment protocol. The aim of Deep TMU is to stimulate deep brain regions with the TMU method. Recent studies have shown that Deep TMU treatment reduces the cravings of addiction patients to use cigarettes/alcohol/substances, which we call cravings. In addition to the reduction of cravings with Deep TMU application, it also helps by reducing the impulsive behaviors that cause substance use in the individual and improving the person's ability to make healthy decisions. As a result of stimulation of these areas, interest in addictive substances decreases and self-control ability of the person increases. They become more resistant to addictive substances. Session durations vary according to the type, amount and frequency of the substance the patient is using."
In which cases is Deep TMU necessary?
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz pointed out that the Deep TMU method should be used in addiction patients, especially in cases of relapse after treatment, if the patient seeks the addictive substance despite the known treatments.
Noting that 60-70% of addiction patients are accompanied by other psychiatric diseases such as depression, anxiety disorder, psychosis, Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz said, "Deep TMU applications are effective in treating the accompanying psychiatric disease together with addiction."
Does deep TMU pose a health risk?
Stating that deep TMU is a low-risk application as in classical TMU, Prof. Dr. Dilbaz said, "Deep TMU is considered as a very low-risk application since no interventional procedure is performed to the patient compared to other brain stimulation methods as in classical TMU. This method does not leave any damage to the brain".
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