NON-PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION USING A MULTIMODAL APPROACH

Abstract

One hundred forty-one individuals suffering from chronic depression, unresponsive to previous drug therapy, were treated with a 44-hour program of education, Cranial Electrical Stimulation (CES), Brain Wave Synchronization (BWS), musical conditioning, and a mentally programmed quartz or glass "crystal" randomly assigned with therapists and patients blinded to the crystal's composition. Eighty· four percent of the depressed patients were improved at the end of two weeks of therapy, apparently as a result of the multimodal therapy and group interaction.

The results at three months follow-up suggest a positive subtle energy effect of quartz: 70% of the depressed patients who received quartz remained improved, while only 31.5% of the depressed patients receiving glass remained improved. These differences are highly statistically significant. It appears that mentally "programmed" quartz may offer a significant reinforcement to allow patients better long-term recovery than would occur with placebo (glass). The cost effectiveness of such a therapeutic approach is significant. Other therapists are encouraged to replicate these studies.