Updated with Dr Mark Xuereb's reply
There is no such thing as a “magic instant cure” for depression and people should be wary of marketing gimmicks designed to take advantage of them, Malta’s psychiatric lobby has warned.
The Malta Association of Psychiatry was prompted to issue a statement to that effect following reports that a religious sect was distributing flyers claiming they could cure depression “in three minutes”.
“Be free from depression in three minutes. Without medicine, without hospitalisation and free of charge,” the flyer read.
Lovin Malta reported that the flyers were produced by the Brazilian sect Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, which has branched out to Malta.
Shortly after news of the flyers made the rounds, the sect uploaded a reworded version of the flyer to the Facebook page of its Malta branch. The reworked flyer did away with the three-minute claim and instead asked readers “What if your new life could start in three minutes?”
A separate article published by iNews quoted a local psychiatrist as saying that a three-minute treatment for depression did in fact exist.
“Nowadays there is a three-minute treatment, Theta Burst Simulation,” Mark Xuereb was quoted as saying.
Theta Burst Simulation is a form of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which uses electromagnetic pulses to kick-start areas of the brain.
Dr Xuereb, who has pioneered the use of TMS in Malta, was quoted by iNews as claiming that patients undergoing such treatment felt better within two hours.
In its statement, the MAP warned that all claims of quick fixes for depression had to be treated with caution.
While TMS could prove useful for people who were not responding well to other methods, it was not a recommended first-line treatment in line with international guidelines, the MAP said.
Local psychiatrists approve its use when it is delivered daily for anything between two and six weeks, though they note that there is a lack of research about its safety when administered to young children.
“The mainstay of treatment for depression is psychotherapy and medication,” the MAP said.
“Contrary to some popular perceptions, such medication when indicated is not addictive and neither is it a 'tranquiliser'. The role of medication is restoring to normal an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.”
MAP said it was gravely concerned “that people who have influence in the community could easily forget their responsibilities and take advantage of patients who are vulnerable due to their desperate desire to feel better.”
“The MAP strongly advises all professionals to always remain balanced in their statements and to never forget that medicine is about the individual and not personal gain,” it said.
'No panacea, but no 'pie-in-the-sky' - Dr Xuereb
In a statement later, Dr Xuereb said patients have a right to be guided by healthcare professionals to make an informed decision in their management plan to recovery, based on the best treatment options available to date. Clinicians are obliged to keep up to date and receive training in new treatments which ultimately strive to make their patients better.
Dr Xuereb said TMS is used all over the world by established bodies in the UK, US, Australia and Canada and has been researched for decades.
"Like all remedies, it is not panacea but it is certainly not charlatan-speak, nor is it pie-in-the-sky. There are no serious side effects."
There are about 30 different types of depression, each with particular characteristics and often co-morbid illnesses which act as perpetuating factors.
Patients have their own personal background, clinical history, medication, co-morbid physical illness and medications which must be factored in when prescribing TMS.
The protocol used depends on the clinical presentation and the research available to date. This large number of variables thus poses a veritable challenge when it comes to prescribing TMS which is a rapidly evolving field.
He said in Malta, his team is in constant personal contact with the CTMMS professionals who offer regular support.
"The fact remains that TMS is a safe, effective, non-invasive, painless and evidence-based treatment for various illnesses including severe depression, anxiety, migraine, pain, addictions, nicotine and alcohol cessation and fibromyalgia. People walk in and walk out of the clinic and carry on with life soon after a TMS session."
Medication and psychological therapies may be inefficient and limited when nerves and their intricate connections are damaged as happens in the case of depressive illnesses, he said.
The patient has the right to consider avoiding side-effect inducing drugs and opt for other treatments, including TMS which works on natural and physics principles.