For people suffering from bipolar II depressive disorder (BP) or unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD), deep brain stimulation (DBS) could hold promising results, according to new research from Emory University.
“Depression is a serious and debilitating medical illness,” said Helen S. Mayberg, leader of the study. “When we found that the potential for effective and sustained antidepressant response with DBS for patients with otherwise treatment resistant major depressive disorder was high, the next step was to determine if patients with intractable bipolar depression could also be successfully treated.”
The 17 patients involved received single-blind stimulation for four weeks, followed by active deep brain stimulation for 24 weeks, which involves an electric charge to the portion of the brain responsible for the disorders. The study participants were then evaluated during the two years following the stimulation.
The study found that, along with the continuing stimulation came a decrease in depression and increase in function among participants:
“Remission and response rates were 18 percent and 41 percent after 24 weeks; 36 percent and 36 percent after one year; and 58 percent and 92 percent after two years of active stimulation. Patients who achieved remission did not experience a spontaneous relapse. Efficacy was similar for Major Depressive Disorder and Bi-Polar patients, and no participant experienced a manic or hypomanic episode.”
“Most of these patients have been in a depressed state for many years and are disabled and isolated,” said researcher Paul Holtzheimer. “As their depression improves, they need a process to help them achieve full recovery that includes integration back into society. We hope to optimize the rate of improvement for these patients by using a model of care that provides psychotherapeutic rehabilitation built on evidence-based psychotherapy but tailored to the specific individual’s situation.”
Source: Emory University
Heather Rudow is a staff writer for Counseling Today. Email her at hrudow@counseling.org.
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