Systems and Methods for Predicting and Treating Neurological Condition Relapses

Abstract

Systems and methods for predicting and treating relapses for neurological conditions in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for predicting and treating a clinical neurological condition relapse. The method includes steps for selecting a threshold heart rate variability value for a patient suffering from a clinical neurological condition, monitoring, using a cardiac monitor, the heart rate variability of the patient over time, providing an indicator that a relapse is imminent when the heart rate variability of the patient falls below the threshold heart rate variability value, and treating the patient using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device by applying an accelerated theta burst stimulation protocol where the transcranial magnetic stimulation target is the left prefrontal dorsolateral cortex.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for predicting and treating a clinical neurological condition relapse, the method comprising:
 selecting a threshold heart rate variability value for a patient suffering from a clinical neurological condition;   monitoring, using a cardiac monitor, the heart rate variability of the patient over time;   providing an indicator that a relapse is imminent when the heart rate variability of the patient falls below the threshold heart rate variability value; and   treating the patient using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device by applying an accelerated theta burst stimulation protocol where the transcranial magnetic stimulation target is the left prefrontal dorsolateral cortex.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold heart rate variability value is selected by:
 obtaining a baseline asymptomatic heart rate variability value for the patient and a baseline symptomatic heart rate variability value for the patient; and   determining the midpoint between the asymptomatic heart rate variability value for the patient and the symptomatic heart rate variability value for the patient.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold heart rate variability value is selected by calculating population average heart rate variability values. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator further comprises a message to a medical scheduling system directing the medical scheduling system to schedule an appointment for treatment for the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the scheduling priority of the appointment is based upon the difference between the threshold heart rate variability value and the measured heart rate variability of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the clinical neurological condition is depression. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is provided when the patient's average heart rate variability value falls below the threshold heart rate variability value for at least three days. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cardiac monitor is a wrist mounted heart rate variability monitor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cardiac monitor is connected to a network via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein indicator warns that the patient is likely to suffer a relapse. 
     
     
         11 . A system for predicting and treating a clinical neurological condition relapse, the method comprising:
 a cardiac monitor configured to measure heart rate variability;   a processor in communication with the cardiac monitor; and   a memory in communication with the processor, comprising a relapse prediction application, where the relapse prediction application directs the processor to:
 select a threshold heart rate variability value for a patient suffering from a clinical neurological condition; 
 monitor, using the cardiac monitor, the heart rate variability of the patient over time; and 
 provide an indicator that a relapse is imminent when the heart rate variability of the patient falls below the threshold heart rate variability value; 
 where the indicator indicates that the patient will require treatment using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device to apply an accelerated theta burst stimulation protocol where the transcranial magnetic stimulation target is the left prefrontal dorsolateral cortex. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein to select the threshold heart rate variability value, the relapse prediction application further directs the processor to:
 obtain a baseline asymptomatic heart rate variability value for the patient and a baseline symptomatic heart rate variability value for the patient; and   determine the midpoint between the asymptomatic heart rate variability value for the patient and the symptomatic heart rate variability value for the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the threshold heart rate variability value is selected by calculating population average heart rate variability values. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator further comprises a message to a medical scheduling system directing the medical scheduling system to schedule an appointment for treatment for the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the scheduling priority of the appointment is based upon the difference between the threshold heart rate variability value and the measured heart rate variability of the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the clinical neurological condition is depression. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator is provided when the patient's average heart rate variability value falls below the threshold heart rate variability value for at least three days. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the cardiac monitor is a wrist cardiac monitor. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the cardiac monitor is connected to a network via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising the transcranial magnetic stimulation device, and the treatment is applied to the patient.