Deep-Brain Stimulation Found to Fix Depression Long-Term

[xchrom]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=deep-brain-stimulation-found


Image: nimh.nih.gov

Deep depression that fails to respond to any other form of therapy can be moderated or reversed by stimulation of areas deep inside the brain. Now the first placebo-controlled study of this procedure shows that these responses can be maintained in the long term.

Neurologist Helen Mayberg at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, followed ten patients with major depressive disorder and seven with bipolar disorder, or manic depression, after an electrode device was implanted in the subcallosal cingulate white matter of their brains and the area continuously stimulated.

All but one of twelve patients who reached the two-year point in the study had completely shed their depression or had only mild symptoms.

For psychiatrists accustomed to seeing severely depressed patients fail to respond—or fail to maintain a response—to antidepressant or cognitive therapy, these results seem near miraculous.

[hedgehog]

1. Cue reference to "One Flew Over the Cukkoo's Nest!"

This is great news. i only wish non-depressives could get a glimmer of understanding!

[xchrom]

2. i think it's very good news.

i've struggled w/ chronic deppression for a long time.

drugs work for a while for me -- then seem to peter out.

i don't think i have 'deep' -- deppression -- not sure how they diagnose the difference.

[hedgehog]

3. If nothing else works, maybe that's the definition?

Hang in there during these winter days - the days are already getting longer!

[xchrom]

4. Yeah - the older I get - the short days, over cast

Days bother me more.

At this stage - I've learned to live w/ it & do lots of talk therapy.

[hedgehog]

5. If you can drag yourself to someplace warm and bright for an afternoon -

I love the Bird house at the Syracuse Zoo.

[xtraxritical]

12. SAD

seasonal affected disorder

[Misskittycat]

14. Much easier fix - Google "SAD" - buy a lightbox

There are therapeutic light boxes for sale online to treat seasonal affective disorder as well as depression symptoms that arise on cloudy, overcast and rainy days all year round. It's much cheaper, simpler, and more effective than lots of talk therapy. It's a biochemical thing that sunny weather conditions and long hours of daylight maintain good moods in people with this type of brain chemistry; in the short winter months and on rainy, cloudy days, these people get depressed. The light boxes simulate the favorable conditions on days when those conditions do not naturally occur.

(BTW, I'm one of "these people" so I'm speaking from experience. When I was younger, I used the light boxes. As I aged, I didn't need them as much. I'm not sure why. Also, since I live in Southern California, so the weather is favorable. My main issue is the short days -- like now -- in the dead of winter. But since I can be outside in the sun during the day, that helps a lot and somewhat offsets the shortness of the daylight hours.)

[provis99]

17. my lightbox works quite well on me.

it gets rid of the seasonal depression I get in the winter. It doesn't affect my overall bipolar depression, but definitely prevents me from sliding further in the winter.

[MedicalAdmin]

18. I don't know if this applies, but

sometimes the seasonal mood affective disorders are made worse by a lack of vitamin D3.

It helps me.

[MindMover]

9. ever try st johns and black cohosh??????

[Shipwack]

22. My first thought was about two science fiction stories...

Spider Robinson's "God is an Iron", and the Jerry Pournelle "Ringworld" universe.

Both have electrical stimulation of the brain for the good, though both warn against unintended consequences. They worry about addiction by those who aren't depressed, but want to feel good to the point of becoming addicts.

However, I too am happy to see this, since several forms of medication aren't helping my depression. I am creeped out by the wires in the brain thing, though I suppose it is no less scary than , say, a pacemaker.

[kdmorris]

6. That sounds promising for someone who has depression

I shudder to think about having electrodes stuck in my brain, though. I'm pretty sure that's because I don't have to live with depression... If they came out with a bionic pancreas, I might be desperate enough to try it.

(this from a woman who was so scared of being paralyzed that I refused the epidurals 3 times when giving birth to 9 lb+ babies).

[xchrom]

7. Pardon me, I'm going to go faint now.

Women are far braver than I will ever be.

[kdmorris]

10. Not brave enough to have a needle stuck in my lower back :)

Once you are at the point of going into labor... there's not a lot of options. I'm not sure that's considered brave or just endurance

[xchrom]

11. Women have more of both where I'm concerned.

I have dreams of being in elevator and the person I'm with giving birth.

EMT takes us ALL away!

[MineralMan]

8. Very interesting. That would be a great breakthrough

for treatment-resistant depressive illnesses. I hope the studies continue.

[Fokker Trip]

13. Amazing but scary too. Better to try cannabinoid therapy at first. Safe and well tested.

Its good that its being developed as an option for intractable cases of depression, but its so easy to mess up that grey mass of cells. I couldn't do it and I've been dealing with depression for a long time.

Edible cannabinoids can be very effective at alleviating depression. Not enough to get high(unless one wants to but enough to lift the mood and open up ones perspective. The effects last for hours and hours.

I have been reading more and more about endogenous cannabinoid deficiency in humans as we have cannabinoids in our body naturally and the receptors for them too. Too few endogenous cannabinoids in our system causes all kinds of havok within us. Cannabis, the plant, corrects this and I believe has likely evolved with us as an external corrector of this system.

I would bet a lot of money on the idea that the prohibition on cannabis has led to a period of exploding health issues that are related to this. We naturally would have been able to take some oil from the plant and alleviate the problem, free and easy and no risk as we have done for thousands of years, but prohibition puts this out of whack and worse it puts stimulants and alcohol in the place of our natural medicine chest, the cannabis plant.

For those who are also prone to depression, maybe try some edibles some time, just go slow at first. It takes a while to take effect and taking too much, although totally safe, is unpleasant and can lead to dizziness and vomiting (ask how I know...lol). Just like a dog drinking liquor one only has to learn that lesson once.

Amazing results can be had. ADD, ADHD, depression, etc, etc. It truly is natures greatest gift to mankind.

Also take a few tablespoons of hemp seed oil daily(no psychoactive effects at all) as it is the perfect balance of essential oils for humans (coincidence? I don't believe so) and its pretty tasty. I mix it with yogurt or drink hot tea with it.

Practicing mindfulness has also helped me a lot and its permanent.

Take care all. These low light days are hard.

[Smilo]

20. Silly question - where would I buy these? Thanks

[FailureToCommunicate]

15. Plain old exercise may help...

and there's little or no cost.

Sure worth a try before surgery.


Interesting read: SPARK by Dr John Ratey

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-18-brain-spark_N.htm



thanks, xchrom, for the thread.

[xchrom]

16. i definitely think exercise helps.

even if just a little.

[hedgehog]

25. Exercise does help - if you're not already to depressed to exercise!

[sense]

19. Almost all of us

are very deficient in Vitamin D and we've been listening to politically, not scientifically, motivated "experts" tell us how to eat since the 70's. Quit the statins, get your vitamin D levels to up to a realistic level and eat coconut oil and you'll all feel better. Reams of research tells us this, but the ptb are not interested in our being healthy.

We need to get a clue and question everything! Here's just one video and vastly more information is out there if you care to look.

I cured my 30 year depression and 10 year diabetes by not listening to CW. The ADA, AMA, FDA, AHA are all bought and paid for, just like the politicians we don't trust. Depression prevented me from discovering the truth sooner..... and millions are in the same boat.

http://vimeo.com/couchmode/ancestralhealthsymposium/videos/sort:newest/29464690

[cbayer]

21. This is great news for patients with severe depression or bipolar disorder that

have been unresponsive to treatment. Perhaps it is the small scapel that will replace the ECT sledgehammer.

OTOH, some of the advice being given in this thread is pretty scary.

[xchrom]

23. +1

[sense]

24. Watch the video.....

Last edited Thu Jan 5, 2012, 06:55 PM - Edit history (1)

It's a swedish doctor telling us the truth, backed by scientific research. http://vimeo.com/couchmode/ancestralhealthsymposium/videos/sort:newest/29464690

An open mind is a wonderful thing.... progression... questioning the status quo. Read the research, don't just believe the ghost writers hired to ensure the profits of the biggest corporations in this country. The research reveals the lies of the 1%, in all areas.

Blindly followed the supposed path to health, like most of us, and got sicker and "needed" more and more drugs. Total crap.

From McClatchy yesterday:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/01/04/134756/drug-research-routinely-suppressed.html#storylink=omni_popular


We've been fooled and fooled. Wake up!

[Sgent]

26. I agree

as someone who was actually evaluated for this therapy about 6 years ago, I sometimes wish I had gone through with it. That being said, study results have been mixed.

[Chemisse]

27. I have an uncle who has suffered terribly for decades.

Nothing has given lasting relief. This type of advance could be very good news for those who have that kind of severe, unrelenting depression.