4 ms·

Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's is pretty incredible [1] and transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression is effective [2]. The open label studies on

Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's is pretty incredible [1] and transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression is effective [2]. The open label studies on DBS for depression were promising, so it was perfectly reasonably to try it out in a randomized controlled trial. [1] http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/deep_brain_stimulation/deep_brain_stimulation.htm http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/deep_brain_stimulation/de... [2] http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804736 http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804736

caycep 11y ago
DBS for Parkinson's (and dystonia and essential tremor) work reliably well, and the complication rates are considered acceptable. However, in terms of understanding the mechanisms of how they work on the brain, I would very much characterize it as a black box. So much so that if you look at the different ways different medical centers and practitioners program the devices, it's clear we don't know how it works; just that it does (and extremely effectively) once you fiddle around with the settings long enough.