Your Gifts: Helping people through leading-edge research

"I used to hear voices. Now I don't hear them anymore."
-- Louis Betsos

Since starting rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) at CAMH in January, Louis Betsos has never felt better. TMS, a cutting-edge treatment trial pioneered at CAMH, is used to treat schizophrenia and clinical depression. It offers a glimmer of hope for clients such as Louis, who find typical medication  ineffective.

Within weeks of beginning his TMS trials, Louis was no longer experiencing the symptoms of schizophrenia. Some symptoms can be irritating; others, such as hearing voices, can be frightening. Louis had lived with such symptoms for most of his adult life. "He had a remarkable response very early on during the treatment. It is these results that make our work so worthwhile," says Jeff Daskalakis, CAMH researcher.

As an outpatient at CAMH for three years before he began TMS, Louis worked in our Growing Greens Program, where he and others harvested sprouts during the winter. The program is designed to help clients prepare or retrain for employment. "It's easy for some people to feel lost when affected by addiction or mental illness, and CAMH programs are a good way for people to get back to their way of doing things after falling out of routine," says Louis.

Louis now works in camh's Sunshine Garden-a partnership between the Vocational and Educational Rehabilitation Service at CAMH and FoodShare that employs CAMH clients, involving them in all aspects of the garden. Here, his green thumb helps to produce fresh fruits and vegetables such as beets, peas, spinach, tomatoes and watermelon. "The programs at CAMH help individuals assert themselves and offer people an opportunity to contribute to society," says Louis. "You gain a sense of pride, confidence and responsibility."

Between working at the Sunshine Garden, getting married this past July and moving into a new apartment, Louis is happy to be living a fulfilling and rewarding life.

"It is very rewarding to participate in clinical trials that are at the cutting edge of research and have the added potential of making people better as well as give them hope. CAMH's redevelopment will allow us to have all of our services centralized-it will make research and treatment easier for both the CAMH staff and clients."
-- Z. Jeff Daskalakis, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Staff Psychiatrist, Schizophrenia Program, CAMH, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

The first transmagnetic stimulator at CAMH was purchased in 1997, funded in part by a donation from Mrs. Annette Wolf. She also funds an annual award to a student doing research in the area of schizophrenia, which Dr. Daskalakis received when he was a student in 1998.

The Research Department at CAMH is dedicated to discovering, sharing and applying new knowledge across all corners of the globe, and serving as mentors for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

• Print
  Follow us on
  
  Share