Implanting Pacemakers in Brains of Patients Effective in Treating Depression

Researchers in Germany have found success in treating patients with depression by implanting pacemakers in their brains.

Researchers from the Bonn University Hospital implanted pacemaker electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle in the brains of patients suffering from major depression. In six out of seven patients, symptoms improved both considerably and rapidly.

The method of Deep Brain Stimulation had already been tested on various structures within the brain, but with clearly lesser effect.

The results of this new study have now been published in the international journal Biological Psychiatry.

"The effects, as well as the speed of the response has so far not been achieved with any other method," says Prof. Dr. Thomas E. Schlapfer from the Bonn University Hospital Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.



Source: IANS