Brain Stimulation Improves Severe Depression
An article in the LA Times reports a study concluding that Brain Stimulation Improves Severe Depression.
Major depressive disorder affects about 14 million people in the U.S., and 10% to 20% of them do not respond to standard medical treatment, according the study.
In the fast-paced atmosphere of the modern world, where everyone has somewhere to be or something that needs to be taken care of, it's very easy for our lives to fall out of focus. Whether we're taking care of the needs of others or pushing to maintain our stamina in a hectic workplace, we often put our own personal needs at the end of our to-do lists. It's very easy for the blues to hang on a little longer than it should.
The nine men and 11 women in the trial had not improved on multiple medications, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Subjects had been taking an average of four medications when the trial began in 2003 and had suffered from major depression for an average of 6.9 years.
Deep brain stimulation is approved to treat essential tremors and Parkinson's disease. Electrodes, which are permanently implanted in the brain, are powered by batteries and can be turned on and off by an external controller.
A new study with expanded participants is underway.
Read the article by clicking here.
