[spyderman]

Just read a very interesting article in the NY Times about a doctor performing a study of a section of the brain, Area 25, when stimulated with a low voltage pacemaker type device, abt 4 volts, the treatment has shown to switch off depression. Just fascinating stuff.

(Warning: the description of the procedure/treatment is a bit graphic.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/m...d=1&ei=5087&en=906cd16c2fe7a115&ex=1144468800

 

[Kristin]

Thanks for posting that. The mind-body connection is fascinating. Medicine is on the cusp of some great new discoveries here. Its exciting to see stigmas being eliminated...like the idea that all depressed people get depressed because of choices they make in life. At the same time, I hope that psychology doesn't shift to trying to treat everything with surgery or a drug. Some depression and other conditions should still be treated with therapy. It takes longer but the results are more "pure"...the healing occurs intnerally, done by our own bodies. There is value in this even though its not a quick fix...but its also not right for everyone.

 

[robwh9]

For some types of epilepsy...

Just read a very interesting article in the NY Times about a doctor performing a study of a section of the brain, Area 25, when stimulated with a low voltage pacemaker type device, abt 4 volts, the treatment has shown to switch off depression. Just fascinating stuff.

(Warning: the description of the procedure/treatment is a bit graphic.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/m...d=1&ei=5087&en=906cd16c2fe7a115&ex=1144468800

People use something called a vagus nerve stimulator, which is surgically implanted. When they feel a seizure coming on, they press a button and it stimulates the vagus nerve electrically and stops the seizure. I wouldn't be surprised if you could do something similar with depression.

 

[svend]

People use something called a vagus nerve stimulator

I think you can buy one in those 24 hr bookstores......

 

[PsyDoc]

They have known...

They have known for a long time that ECT has been effective in treating clinical depression, but they still do not know why it works. Nice to see they are working toward a solution.

 

[MR_GRUMPY]

Three or four beers does the same thing for me.

 

[Kristin]

There is another psycological term for that.

......

Three or four beers does the same thing for me.

 

[MR_GRUMPY]

Thankfully, I don't need that treatment more than a few times a year. Sometimes, two beers does it. Usually, it takes three, though.