Biomedical Engineering A Cure for Depression

An interesting look at mental health engineering…could the field of biomedicine provide a cure for depression?

Biomedical engineering, depression, and mental health aren’t often talked about in the same sentence. But the latest research proves that biomedicine can be beneficial for the brain.

A team of biomedical engineers and psychiatrists are currently working together to find better, more effective ways of treating illnesses like depression. And it all starts with getting a more complete understanding of how the brain works when someone is depressed.

A response to the pandemic

With the rising number of mental health issues during the Covid-19 health crisis, it’s become apparent that we need to do more to help people cope. This is particularly vital during national or local lockdowns where people are expected to quarantine and self-isolate, shutting themselves off socially.

A group of scientists from the University of South Florida are now looking for new treatments for depression, seeking out new approaches that are both safe and effective.

There are many people who are diagnosed with this disorder, yet they do not respond to traditional medications. Through repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a treatment that uses a small coil on an area of the head to non-invasively reach the brain, it could now be possible to reduce symptoms in patients.