MRI scans can ease the symptoms of depression for six months.
MRI scans could hold the key to curing depression
Experts at the University of Nottingham have revealed that using scans to target specific areas of a depressed person's brain can double the length of time the treatment works for.
A method called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been used to treat cases of severe depression since the 1980s and has been found to ease symptoms for three months.
TMS is usually delivered in several sessions over the course of four to six weeks but the use of MRIs can extend the benefits for much longer by targeting the same area of the brain in every session.
Professor Richard Morriss, a psychiatrist at the University of Nottingham's School of Medicine, said: "The MRI personalised the site of stimulation and then neuronavigation makes sure the same site is being stimulated at each treatment session.
"This reduces the variability in stimulation at each session.
"Since the magnetic pulse can be focused, there are usually only minor short-lasting side-effects, and the person can return to their daily activities immediately on return from the hospital."