Brain stimulation would be effective against resistant depression. We speak of “resistant depression” when antidepressants have no effect on the patient.
Brain stimulation would be effective against resistant depression, according to a new study. The target was the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a small region of the brain located just above the eyes. Using electric current to directly stimulate regions of the brain has already proven to be an effective therapy for treating some forms of epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, but trials for depression have so far been inconclusive. .
Effects in just three minutes
“The lateral orbitofrontal cortex is one of the least understood regions of the brain, but it is known to be linked to mood and decision-making,” says Eddie Chang, professor of neurosurgery and director of the study. His team recruited 25 patients with varying degrees of depression, and asked them to rate their mood several times a day. She observed the patterns of brain activity related to the natural fluctuations of feelings for several days.
The scientists then used a mild electric current to disrupt brain activity in different regions of the brain, asking patients to report the effects of the intervention on their psychological state. They then found that most stimulation sites had no effect on the mood of the volunteers, but that applying a current to the lateral orbitofrontal cortex for just three minutes, even on one side of the brain, produced a significant improvement in mood in depressives.
Improved patient body language
“We could see the improvement in the body language of the patients. They smiled, sat more upright, began to speak faster and more naturally”, say the scientists (depression slows down the movements of people affected, Editor’s note) . Very positive sentences were also spoken.
Two other observations indicate a real therapeutic potential. First, the researchers found that applying a current to the lateral orbitofrontal cortex triggered patterns of brain activity similar to what had occurred naturally in the volunteers’ brains during their good times. Furthermore, stimulation only improved the mood of patients with symptoms of moderate to severe depression, but had no effect on those with milder symptoms.
The most common psychiatric illness
Depression is the most common psychiatric illness and affects all ages. In France, it is estimated that nearly one person in five has suffered or will suffer from depression during their lifetime. The prevalence of depression in France increased by 1.8 points between 2010 and 2017, according to a recent report by Public Health France, particularly among women (+3 points), 35-44 year olds (+4 points) , the unemployed (+5 points) and people on low incomes (+3 points).
We speak of “resistant depression” when antidepressants have no effect on the patient. About 30% of depressives are in this case, with the key to terrible suffering.
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