Controlled Study of Deep Brain Stimulation

St. Jude Starting Trial On Brain Stimulation For Depression

"St. Jude Medical Inc. (STJ) has garnered Food and Drug Administration approval to launch a trial the company plans to use to pursue U.S. approval for a pacemaker-like device that uses electricity to treat severe depression."

In depressed patients, a specific area of the brain called the subgenual cingulate region (also known as Brodmann Area 25) shows increased blood flow when compared to non-depressed subjects. For this new study, researchers will use brain surgery to implant a small pacemaker like electrode into this area of the brain. The electrode is expected to improve symptoms of depression by sending controlled jolts of electricity that will reduce overactivity in that specific area of the brain. Researchers have already performed this brain surgery procedure on individual patients in the past but these trials were not controlled. You can watch an older video about DBS for depression here. In one of the first studies of DBS for depression, four out of six patients in the study had fewer symptoms of depression due to the implantation of the electrode in the subgenual cingulate region. In some studies, the change in depressive symptoms for patients undergoing this procedure have been dramatic.

"At his signal, two volts of electricity, enough to power a wristwatch, course through the wires and radiate outward from the tip a few millimeters in every direction. Millions of neurons bask in the electricity, and the effect is fairly immediate. Hire feels warm at first, a bit flushed. And then it happens. The room looks brighter to her. The faces, the big, circular lights overhead, the ceiling-they all seem clearer. Malone asks her how she feels. "I'm really happy," she replies, clearly surprised." Popsci

Researchers have also implanted electrodes within the brain's pleasure center (called the nucleus accumbens) to treat refractory anhedonia. When the electrode was activated in these patients, they suddently wanted to partake in normal activities once again. Depression is often associated with anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure. Depressed patients often find life unrewarding, which is why many are fairly apathetic. This new trial may finally prove that DBS can ameliorate the symptoms of depression when compared to sham treatment.