DEPRESSION: Treatment Resistant Depression and Deep Brain StimulationIts all about  Brodman area 25 and subcortical connections to the cingulate and limibic areas!   Researchers at Emory University, Helen Maybery, MD and Andres Lozano, MD - observed that area 25 (a small area of the Frontal Lobe) is overactive in treatment resistent depression and applied deep brain stimulation to moduate this area.  They found that stimulation of the white matter tracts adjacent to the subgenual cingulate gyrus was associated with "striking and sustained remission" in depression. These cases were extreme in that all patients had failed to responded to multiple medications, psychotherapy and even electroconvulsive therapy.

I recently listened to them both explain their results and viewed a video of the patients before and after stimulaion trials at the American Neuropsychiatry conference in Tuscon, Arizona.  Although the procedure remains experimental it soon may be available.  This is the same type of stimulation that allows patients with Parkinsons Disease to walk and reduces their tremors. This is the most interesting result from a "procedure" I've seen in a number of years.  We will monitor progress with this treatment carefully and keep you informed of progress and FDA approval.