Date of Award
Spring 2020
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Social Work
First Advisor
Debra Norris
Second Advisor
Brian Burrell
Third Advisor
Lisa McFadden
Keywords
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Pain, Opioid Use, Holistic Approach
Subject Categories
Anesthesia and Analgesia | Social Work
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to bring attention to alternatives to using analgesics or painkillers and potentially addictive opioid analgesics. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been proven successful in treating medication-resistant depression. This literature review will look at the links between pain and depression and examine adaptations to TMS coils in hopes of being able to stimulate the regions of the brain that interpret pain. By looking at current advancements in TMS, we can work towards adapting TMS to stimulate deeper regions. The final section of this thesis will examine how making these alternatives more popular will impact pain management. The hope is that by bringing these non-surgical, non-medication alternatives to pain management into mainstream medical use rather than alternative medicine, we can work towards holistic care and move highly addictive opioid analgesics only available to those in critical care.
Recommended Citation
Skinner, Ashley N., "Managing Chronic Pain Through Advancements in Transcranial Brain Stimulation Technology Currently Used for Depression" (2020). Honors Thesis. 95.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/95