For the estimated 10 percent of people who will experience an episode of major depression in their lifetime, the following may (or may not) come as a blessing:
Researchers have been perfecting pacemaker-like technology to treat patients who suffer from severe depression and have had little success with "conventional" therapies. The technology, which is already used to treat Parkinson's disease, uses electrodes that are implanted in the brain to switch off or interrupt the electrical circuits linked to depression.
Early Work
Professor Helen Mayberg from Emory University School of Medicine first began studying the use of deep-brain stimulation to treat depression 15 years ago. By examining brain scans of patients with severe depression that could not be eased with drugs or other available treatments, she discovered such patients tended to have extremely high activity in an area of the brain within the limbic system -- the area associated with mood.
The depressed patients were also found to have lower than normal activity in the frontal lobe, which appeared to be associated with the abnormally elevated activity in the part of the limbic system that Professor Mayberg referred to as area 25.
She reasoned that stimulating area 25 with electric currents would put brain activity back in balance and ease depression.
Putting the Data to Use
The technology researchers came up with consists of a matchbox-sized, battery-powered generator that is placed inside a patient's chest that tracks brain function and produces electrical currents. The currents are then relayed to the desired area deep in the brain through tiny wires channeled under the skin on either side of the neck.
To study its effects, researchers implanted the device, under local anesthetic, into six patients suffering from depression who failed on all other treatments; four out of the six patients have had significant improvements in their mood with no side effects.
Therefore, this technology, explained researchers, would be ideal for patients with the most severe and debilitating treatment-resistant depression.
BBC News June 27, 2005
Newsweek June 27, 2005
Don't you just love Moore's Law, which has been in affect for over 40 years, since Gordon Moore, Intel's founder, stated that transistors will double every 18 months? It is responsible for many of the amazing benefits we all enjoy today. High-speed Internet is certainly one of them and without that this newsletter would not be possible.
However, it's possible to take any technology and use it inappropriately, and this is so easy to do when someone is clueless about natural medicine principles. Treating depression with this technology is an absolute abuse and should be avoided at all costs, as there are far more effective, less invasive and less expensive options.
If you're at your wit's end and feel there are no good solutions left to treat your depression, I strongly urge you to try these safe, effective options before risking your health with such an invasive procedure.
Natural Treatments for Depression
Optimize the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fats in your diet by eating foods high in omega-3 fats and taking a high-quality fish or cod liver oil every day.
Reduce, with the goal of eliminating, sugar and grains from your diet.
Start moving with an exercise program.
Use my free online manual to learn the energy psychology tool called the Emotional Freedom Technique, which I use daily in my practice.
Related Articles:
Treatment Options for Healing Depression The Best Kept Secret For Treating Depression St. John's Wort Found Ineffective for Moderate Depression
Treatment Options for Healing Depression
The Best Kept Secret For Treating Depression
St. John's Wort Found Ineffective for Moderate Depression