New ways to treat depression: A new study on biomarkers of depression

A group of doctors, engineers, and brain scientists made an exciting discovery about treating really severe depression. 

They used a special treatment called deep brain stimulation (DBS), where they put tiny wires in the brain to send little electric pulses. 

Let's find out more about it.

This discovery can help

By looking at how the brain acted during this treatment, scientists found a unique pattern that shows when people are getting better from treatment-resistant depression. 

Think of it like a signal that tells us when someone is getting better.

This discovery is a big deal because it helps doctors understand how this treatment works in the brain. 

It's like a window into the brain during depression treatment.

DBS has been used for other problems like Parkinson's disease for a long time, but for depression, it's still kind of experimental. 

This study helps doctors know if the treatment is working and if they need to change it.

They studied 10 people with really bad depression who got DBS. 

After six months, 90% of them felt a lot better, and 70% didn't have depression anymore.

They also used computers to help them understand the brain patterns better. 

Why it's important

This discovery can help doctors treat depression better in the future. 

It's like having a new tool to see how someone is doing and change their treatment if needed. 

It might even help spot depression before it comes back.

So, this study is a big step forward in treating depression, and it shows how teamwork and technology can make a real difference in people's lives.
 

• Related news:
• research
• depression
• brain
• 6 October 2023

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