Method of treating amygdala related transitory disorders

• US 5,707,334 A
• Filed: 08/21/1995
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert B. Young
• Original Assignee: Robert B. Young
• Inventors: Young, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/517,317
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 600/9-15
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for diagnosing and treating Amygdala Related Transitory Disorders, comprising selecting a patient who has symptoms suggesting ARTD, stimulating said patient'"'"'s amygdala with a magnetic field, and determining whether said stimulus with a magnetic field is capable of inducing or aggravating symptoms of ARTD. Additional embodiments include a method to determine the lowest dose of an anticonvulsant that will effectively control ARTD, and methods of using electromagnetic stimuli to treat ARTD by interfering with kindling or desensitizing the amygdala.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient having an amygdala related transitory disorder, which comprises:

(a) selecting a patient who suffers from amygdala related transitory disorder; and

(b) administering to said patient a magnetic field that is effective to alleviate the symptoms of an amygdala related transitory disorder exhibited by the patient being treated.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic stimulus is administered by:

(a) subcranially placing one or more coils capable of mediating the formation of a localized electromagnetic field; and

(b) generating a localized electromagnetic field.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein a multiplicity of magnetic stimuli of defined strength and duration are administered at defined intervals.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein

(a) the magnetic field strength is about 0.1 to about 4 Tesla;

(b) the magnetic field is administered in trains of pulses, wherein each train lasts from about 5 seconds to about 10 minutes; and

(c) the field is administered in 1-20 second pulses, with an interval of 1-20 seconds between pulses.