Brain pacemaker lifts depression

Brain pacemaker lifts depression


Fitting patients with a brain pacemaker could switch off hard-to-treat depression, believe UK experts.
The technology, already used to treat Parkinson's disease, uses wires and a battery source to stimulate deep parts of the brain with electric currents.

As well as helping depressed patients who have failed on all other therapies, it might also be helpful for treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

UK neurologists said they planned to test this after promising US trials.

Experts at Bristol University and the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Welwyn Garden City are currently looking to recruiting patients with OCD to take part in a trial that will start later in the year...cont'd

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4625775.stm