Stereotactic NeuroEngineering (Depression dealt the Techno way) [ READ ]
Rushika Verma, Neelam Tikone
A study based on the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Survey, 2011 has said that India has the highest rate of major depression condition in the world. Major depression is a kind of neuropsychiatric disorder which can be treated by neural modulation. A region of the human brain called Brodmann area 25 (part responsible for rise of emotion) grows hyperactive, disrupting neural signal causing depression. When anti-depression drugs and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) fail to control the hyperactivity in this region, the condition thereafter is known as Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD). TRD patients can then be treated by Deep Brain Simulation (DBS). DBS system consists of three components - Implanted Pulse Generator (IPG) also called as stimulator, the lead and the extension. The device sends electrical pulses to the brain to interfere with neural activity at target site. Having any part of the device go through the skin would create a risk of infection, so the surgeon typically tunnels a small path under the skin from IPG to the electrode. There was considerable mood upliftment noticed in the patients. DBS is proving to be one of the most recent and novel intervention that involves high end technology for severely disabled patients with TRD.
Rushika Verma, Neelam Tikone
A study based on the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Survey, 2011 has said that India has the highest rate of major depression condition in the world. Major depression is a kind of neuropsychiatric disorder which can be treated by neural modulation. A region of the human brain called Brodmann area 25 (part responsible for rise of emotion) grows hyperactive, disrupting neural signal causing depression. When anti-depression drugs and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) fail to control the hyperactivity in this region, the condition thereafter is known as Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD). TRD patients can then be treated by Deep Brain Simulation (DBS). DBS system consists of three components - Implanted Pulse Generator (IPG) also called as stimulator, the lead and the extension. The device sends electrical pulses to the brain to interfere with neural activity at target site. Having any part of the device go through the skin would create a risk of infection, so the surgeon typically tunnels a small path under the skin from IPG to the electrode. There was considerable mood upliftment noticed in the patients. DBS is proving to be one of the most recent and novel intervention that involves high end technology for severely disabled patients with TRD.
