Radboudumc opens Neurobiological Treatment Unit for people with difficult-to-treat mental disorders

The Radboudumc opened the Neurobiological Treatment Unit (in Dutch: Neurobiologische Behandelunit) today. This new facility of the Department of Psychiatry offers innovative neurobiological treatments under one roof for patients with severe mood disorders and other mental illnesses that do not respond to regular therapies.

For people with a difficult-to-treat depression, psychosis, anxiety disorder or addiction, the Radboudumc opens new perspectives. The Neurobiological Treatment Unit brings together various advanced treatment methods in one facility, enabling patients to be helped more quickly and effectively.

Innovative treatment methods

'Neurobiological treatments are based on the idea that mental disorders are partly caused by disturbances in the functioning of the brain,' explains psychiatrist Philip van Eijndhoven. 'These treatment methods physically affect the brain and are intended for patients who do not respond to usual treatments with medication or psychotherapy.' The treatment unit offers four different neurobiological therapies:

• Magnetic insult therapy - The Radboudumc is the first in the Netherlands to offer this experimental treatment. Similar to electroconvulsive therapy, but with magnetic pulses and less memory loss.
• Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) - Treatment with repetitive magnetic pulses to influence brain activity. Radboudumc offers an intensive variant based on MRI scans.
• Electroconvulsive therapy - Treatment with electric pulses during anesthesia to restore disturbances in the brain.
• Esketamine nasal spray - Therapy that improves communication in the brain by affecting signaling substances.

In addition to treating patients, the team conducts research on the effects of the innovative treatments and trains healthcare professionals so that these treatment methods can be properly implemented elsewhere.

Social impact

A serious mental illness affects not only the patient himself, but also the immediate environment, work and thus the entire society,' Van Eijndhoven emphasizes. 'By organizing ourselves this way in the Neurobiological Treatment Unit, including the latest neurobiological treatment methods, we can undoubtedly help our patients faster and more effectively.'

Want to know more?

Read more: https://www.radboudumc.nl/neurobiologischebehandelunit

Watch the introductory film here. 

The Neurobiological Treatment Unit is part of the Department of Psychiatry at the Center for Brain and Senses of the Radboudumc.

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