A new option for treating depression has emerged that doesn’t rely on medication. This innovative approach comes from GrayMatters Health, which utilizes a method known as “autonomous tumor” to assist patients in rewiring their brain processes to alleviate symptoms.
“This represents a completely new way to address depression, and it’s effective,” says Dr. Aaron Tendler, a board-certified psychiatrist and the Chief Medical Officer at GrayMatters Health.
Today marks the launch of a new protocol called Prism for Depression, which will gradually become available at various clinics in the upcoming months. A version of this treatment aimed at PTSD patients was introduced last year.
Finding Light in Darkness
For Vivian Jackson, the PTSD-focused prism provided a transformative experience.
At 73, she has faced a lifetime of trauma, beginning with an abusive upbringing and ongoing bullying, which culminated in a challenging divorce that left her a young single parent.
Her mental health took a significant hit after a complicated surgery left her unable to swallow or speak properly. During an 11-day hospital stay, she was overwhelmed by distressing thoughts.
“It felt like jumping out of a window was the only option,” Jackson recalled. “Everything became dark after the surgery.”
Her emotional downturn was merciless.
“Nothing brought me joy,” she remembered. “I stopped singing, laughing—just went silent.”
A nurse encouraged her to seek assistance, which led to a surprising PTSD diagnosis.
“I thought it only affected veterans,” she reflected.
Statistics show that around 6.8% of American adults, roughly 13 million people, will experience PTSD at some point. But for Jackson, years on antidepressants didn’t help. When her doctor suggested the prism treatment, she felt a flicker of hope.
A Game-Like Path to Healing
The treatment consists of 15 sessions lasting 45 minutes each over two months. To understand how it works, you need to know about the amygdala, a small yet crucial part of the brain responsible for the fight-or-flight response. Those with PTSD often find their amygdala on high alert, leading to symptoms like hyper-vigilance and severe anxiety, even when there’s no immediate danger.
PRISM employs an EEG headset that monitors amygdala activity, providing real-time feedback on PTSD-related symptoms. Patients learn to calm their brain activity using tailored mental strategies.
“It’s akin to a video game,” Dr. Tendler explained. “If they focus and succeed, the avatars relax. If they lose focus, the avatars react accordingly.”
Patients choose a “mental strategy”—a calming memory, mantra, or song—that evokes safety. During the session, they wear the EEG headset and watch an avatar displayed in the room.
The headset captures the brain’s responses. When stress decreases, the avatar sits down, reflecting the patient’s progress.
Rediscovering Joy
Initially, Jackson struggled, trying out various strategies without success. But then, something shifted.
She described the moment as a profound sense of peace: “All at once, it was like the noise faded away. Just tranquility.”
“You create your own feelings,” Jackson recalled her doctor’s advice. “You can’t control everything, but you can manage your feelings.”
By the fifth session, she focused on joyful memories of California’s beaches, her favorite place. “I could almost smell the salt and hear the waves,” she said. With that mental focus, her avatar finally settled down.
That night, a change occurred at home. “I found myself singing and laughing again,” Jackson added.
Initially, memories like hers were tools, but over time, patients learn to self-regulate emotions, according to Dr. Tendler. “There’s growth,” he noted. “You start handling your emotions more effectively.”
Promising Outcomes for PTSD Patients
Months later, the benefits of the prism persist for Jackson. “It shifts your entire perspective on life,” she stated.
“Does that mean I don’t ever experience an episode? No, I do. But I now recognize my triggers and know how to cope.” She can discuss her mother, something that would have been impossible before.
She’s not alone in this journey. Clinical trials have shown that 67% of patients experienced significant improvements and better sleep within three months of completing the program, with one-third no longer meeting PTSD criteria.
Most side effects reported were mild, like headaches or dizziness, which tended to resolve independently.
“The patient is in charge of their healing,” Dr. Tendler emphasized. “We can’t provide a safer treatment than this.”
Alternative to Conventional Therapy
Traditional therapies often push patients to relive traumatic events, which can be deeply painful for those with PTSD. Dr. Tendler believes Prism effectively avoids that narrative-driven approach.
“A significant number of therapists hesitate to refer patients to exposure therapy to avoid causing distress,” he shared. “And many patients don’t complete that kind of therapy.”
Currently, the PTSD prism treatment is available in over 20 clinics across the country.
A New Approach to Depression
Following the success of the PTSD program, GrayMatters Health has turned its focus to major depression, a condition affecting over 21 million adults in the U.S. yearly.
Dr. Tendler noted that one of depression’s most debilitating symptoms is anhedonia—the inability to find joy in things that once brought happiness.
“Research suggests this stems from decreased activity in the brain’s reward system,” he explained.
The new depression prism targets this issue to enhance brain activity in these reward centers, aiming to restore joy and motivation.
Similar to the PTSD version, patients use a soft EEG headset but watch animated scenarios instead of being in a busy setting. They focus on memories that spark feelings of joy, excitement, or motivation—be it related to social interactions, work, or food.
If a patient maintains a high level of emotional pleasure for more than 25 seconds, the animation responds accordingly, reinforcing the connection to positive feelings.
Success Rate and Future Prospects
In a small trial involving 44 people with chronic depression, results were encouraging, revealing a 78% success rate in reducing symptoms after just ten treatments, with 32% achieving remission.
GrayMatters Health aims to conduct further studies with larger participant groups and more treatment sessions.
Dr. Tendler is hopeful but notes that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
“Those who are extremely depressed, unable to get out of bed, might find this challenging,” he pointed out. “You need a baseline level of motivation to engage in this treatment.”
Unlike the PTSD version, the depression protocol is still awaiting FDA approval but is classified as a low-risk medical device and can be utilized in psychiatric clinics.
In the coming months, clinics offering the depression prism treatment will be available, including three locations in the Greater NYC area.
