Sandy Rasmussen of Hot Springs, Ark.
Sandy Rasmussen, 74, had struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide for most of her life until she turned to PRI’s Interventional Psychiatry program and the SAINT neuromodulation system.
Launched at PRI in June 2024, the SAINT system has transformed treatment for patients with depression symptoms that have not improved after standard treatments such as medications and psychotherapy. The revolutionary technology uses advanced MRI imaging to precisely target the area of the brain most involved in the individual patient’s mood symptoms, delivering personalized treatment that achieves maximum effectiveness.
“I’ve taken almost every antidepressant that you can imagine but none of them worked,” said Rasmussen, who lives in Hot Springs, Ark. After getting some short-term relief of her symptoms from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), she decided to undergo the SAINT therapy, opting to do it on an outpatient basis.
“I started seeing results from the treatment by that first weekend. I know the difference it made in my life because before I had the SAINT treatment, I was very irritable, I was always crying and I said a lot of mean things to people,” said Rasmussen. “After the treatment, almost everybody says that I act much happier. I can enjoy things, I get out of the house a lot more and I can deal with things a lot better.”
Rasmussen said it was difficult to get help for her depression because of her travels around the country for her work as an exercise rider at horse tracks.
“I really wish more people could have access to the SAINT therapy. It’s a lifesaver, I haven’t had any thoughts about suicide since I had it, it doesn’t even cross my mind.”