Psych Scales And A Bit Of Encouragement

As I wrote in my last blog post, at my 6 month follow-up appointment they did some psychiatric scales testing.  They do this testing at every follow-up appointment to see if my depression is improving or not.  In other words, to see if the surgery has been a success or not.  The testing primarily consisted of three scales to determine the severity of my depression.  As I wrote back when I originally did the psychiatric scales, all of the tests that I did at the time of my surgery showed that I was suffering from severe depression.  The first test that we did was the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D).  Originally when I had my surgery, I received a score of 25 on this test.  This week I received a score of 26.  Scores of greater than or equal to 23 indicate a very severe depression.  Thus, my depression has gotten slightly worse according to this test.  The second test that I did was the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).  Originally when I had my surgery, I received a score of 36 on this test.  This week I received a score of 38.  Scores of greater than 34 indicate severe depression.  So, my depression is also getting slightly worse according to this test.  Finally I did the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).  Originally when I had my surgery, I received a score of 36 on this test.  This week, my score was 38  Scores of greater than or equal to 29 indicate severe depression.  Thus, I am also getting slightly worse according to this test.  Overall, these test scores indicate that I am getting slightly worse since I had the surgery.  The brief period of improvement that I had hasn't seemed to have had any effect on my overall scores.

I forgot to mention in my last blog post something that Dr. Levitt told me about one of the other study participants that has also received Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS).  She was one of the first recipients of the procedure and noticed a slight improvement about a month or two after the surgery.  He said that after 11 months she had a miraculous improvement and is now back to normal.  Apparently most people that they are following have HAM-D scores that are in the 20's.  Hers is now apparently at 1.  This is an amazing turn-around for her.  She is basically cured.  So, even though I haven't gotten better yet, there is still time.  They always say that it can take a year or more for things to get better.