Deep brain stimulation is based upon the observation that a region of the brain called Brodmann area 25 is metabolically overactive in treatment-resistant depression. Researchers studied whether a chronic deep brain stimulation to modulate this activity could help patients with treatment-resistant depression.
What the researchers found was that deep brain stimulation was associated with a "striking and sustained" remission of depression in four of the six patients they studied.
The six study participants had been suffering from depression anywhere between 1.5 to 10 years and were considered to be treatment-resistant.
Among the effects patients reported were sudden calmness, heightened awareness and increased interest.
Emphasis mine.
The studies done were limited at best but I know I'd jump on this in a heartbeat if it ever went mainstream. Complete remission of all depression symptoms without spending a lifetime on pills? Sign me up yesterday.
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