Targeted electrical stimulation of a particular region of the brain can lessen symptoms of depression that doesnt improve with other treatments.
Targeted electrical stimulation of a particular region of the brain can lessen symptoms of major depression that doesn't improve with other treatments.Previous research has suggested that this region of the brain - called the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex - plays a key role in the development of major depression. The following is the first study to investigate the use of an implanted cortical stimulator to treat severe and medically refractory major depression. Researchers from California studied 12 patients who, on average, had depression for 27 years and had not been helped by nine or ten different medications. To provide brain stimulation, electrodes were placed on the surface of the brain via a small opening in the cranium. The subjects were randomly assigned to get active or sham stimulation for 8 weeks and then all were given active stimulation.
It was found that at 8 weeks, scores on a standard depression rating scale improved by 22 percent in the active treatment group compared with just 3 percent in the sham treatment group. All of the subjects showed continued improvement 6 and 12 months later.The researchers concluded that there are a number of new approaches to treating major depression, which include deep brain stimulation and cortical stimulation.
It was found that at 8 weeks, scores on a standard depression rating scale improved by 22 percent in the active treatment group compared with just 3 percent in the sham treatment group. All of the subjects showed continued improvement 6 and 12 months later.The researchers concluded that there are a number of new approaches to treating major depression, which include deep brain stimulation and cortical stimulation.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting
May 2009
May 2009
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