Journals Information
International Journal of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science(CEASE PUBLICATION) Vol. 6(1), pp. 12 - 15
DOI: 10.13189/ijnbs.2018.060102
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An Evaluation of the Comparative Effectiveness of tDCS Treatments for Depression in Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman Al-Thaqib 1, Imdad Kaleem 2, Baradi, Raidah Saleem 3, Ayesha Hameed Khattak 2, Bashir Shahid 3,*
1 College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Bioinformatics and Bioscience, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Islamabad 45600, Pakistan
3 Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
Depression is a common psychiatric illness occurs globally in general public with a lifetime frequency of 15-20%. A recent survey revealed that 6-7% people of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) suffer from depression every year. Depressed persons show symptoms like low mood, suicidal thoughts, impaired sleep, reduced appetite, low energy and cognitive dysfunction. Other major impairments include the deterioration of physical and mental abilities. They not only cause substantial impacts on careers; but also lead to a profound economic cost. The annual estimated economic loss due to depression in KSA is approximately $4.3 billion in terms of low or lost productivity and 6 million lost working days. Psychotherapy or antidepressant medications are the standard treatment for depression. The medication is however recommended to the patients, having severe illness or who are not suitable for engagement in psychological treatment. Antidepressant medications are becoming common and enormously being utilized by such patients. As a result, lower response rates and significant long-term side effects are seen in these patients. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is rapidly emerging as a standard alternative treatment intervention in depression all over the world. tDCS is currently employed on "the treatment resistant patient." These are those patients who have failed to respond to one or more medication trials. This review reveals the scope and superiority of tDCS over other therapeutic methods and its adaptability and durability in the treatment of depression.
KEYWORDS
Depression, Economic Losses, KSA, Treatments, tDCS
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Abdulrahman Al-Thaqib , Imdad Kaleem , Baradi, Raidah Saleem , Ayesha Hameed Khattak , Bashir Shahid , "An Evaluation of the Comparative Effectiveness of tDCS Treatments for Depression in Saudi Arabia," International Journal of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science(CEASE PUBLICATION), Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 12 - 15, 2018. DOI: 10.13189/ijnbs.2018.060102.
(b). APA Format:
Abdulrahman Al-Thaqib , Imdad Kaleem , Baradi, Raidah Saleem , Ayesha Hameed Khattak , Bashir Shahid (2018). An Evaluation of the Comparative Effectiveness of tDCS Treatments for Depression in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science(CEASE PUBLICATION), 6(1), 12 - 15. DOI: 10.13189/ijnbs.2018.060102.