BRIGhTMIND - Institute of Mental Health

BRIGhTMIND is the name of a research study taking place in Nottingham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London and Oldham. The study is researching the effectiveness of two types of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation treatments designed to help people who are experiencing depression for which traditional treatments like medication and talking therapies or counselling haven’t worked. This type of depression is called treatment resistant depression.

Recruitment has now closed, with 255 people participating in the BRIGhTMIND study and receiving TMS treatment.

“TMS is designed to support the brain’s natural electrical activity. Some people say that they think of TMS as a way of ‘jump starting’ a flat battery or re-connecting a loose cable to a lamp!”

MRIs are a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body including the brain.

Image of a human skull and brain as seen by an MRI scanner

A major clinical trial has shown that by using MRI and tracking to guide the delivery of magnetic stimulation to the brains of people with severe depression, patients will see their symptoms ease for at least six months, which could vastly improve their quality of life.