Brain pacemaker lifts depression (small initial studies)

[HuckleB]

Brain pacemaker lifts depression

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

also...

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8376044/

"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 trails. 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.

..."


I don't know where to begin. The possible positives and possible negatives are overwhelming my poor brain. Hey, did someone mention a brain pacemaker?

[evlbstrd]

1. Ever read "The Terminal Man"?

[HuckleB]

4. Yes. Classic '70s fiction.

A great book studying the genre:
http://upress.kent.edu/books/Seed.htm

[Enraged_Ape]

21. That was my very first thought, as well

Very scary book. So-so movie. Very much food for thought.

[zanne]

2. Like a terminal cancer patient....

I'll try anything. I've been suffering from long bouts of severe depression most of my life. Sign me up.

[booksenkatz]

6. I've had moderate depression off/on all my life, BUT

lately, I've come to believe that the dark cloud that hangs over me now, even during my happy days, is entirely due to what's happening to our country. I overcame so much of my depression with excellent therapy in the mid-90s, then was hit in the face on Dec. 12, 2000! Haven't been the same since. I wonder if this device has a setting to help a person survive the Bush Administration? (No, I'm really not being too terribly facetious.)

[Lorien]

24. Please see this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=276&topic_id=1649&mesg_id=1649

This device saved my life!

[merwin]

3. This isn't really news. Things like this have been used for a long time

for depression in mental wards all across the country. Very localized shock therapy :-)

[HuckleB]

5. Yes, but fits and starts don't equate to serious study.

That's what makes this news.

[merwin]

8. I don't understand what you just said... could you rephrase?

[HuckleB]

13. These are the first studies to go beyond one-off anecdotal evidence.

With much bigger studies being proposed. That's a huge difference from what's been done in the past.

[merwin]

17. Looks like there were some clinical studies 10-20 years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy

Although, these recent ones do look more in-depth and trying to figure out why it works.

[Lorien]

19. Serious studies have been done for over 24 years

Google "cranial electrotherapy".

[HuckleB]

25. That's not what I call serious research, sorry.

Can you reference some peer-reviewed placebo-controlled trials?

[Lorien]

26. The Cleveland clinic doesn't do "serious research"?

Look again. I don't have the time.

[HuckleB]

27. You're making a recommendation.

And you don't have the time? I don't see any peer-reviewed, followed-up studies via google. I would think that someone making the recommendation you're making to other individuals would have done that kind of research, and would know where the peer-reviewed links and/or references could be found. Otherwise, I'm sorry, but there are ethical issues at play here. I hope you understand that.

[Lorien]

28. I did my own research, and it worked for me-WONDERFULLY

I was suicidal for 24 years and now I'm not the least bit depressed. But I'm self employed with a killer deadline and I simply DON'T HAVE THE TIME!!!!!!!!! Do your own research as I did mine:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=276x1649
It's your health-if you're depressed, all I can do is tell you what has worked for me.Sorry, but I won't spend the next hour of my limited time Googling research papers on the Alpha-stim for you.

Back to work now.

[HuckleB]

30. That's great for you. I think it's wonderful.

But now you are recommending something to others, and I think it ought to take more than personal experience to make such a recommendation.

[Lorien]

32. If you spent as much time looking at the research out there

as you have implying that I'm full of shit, then you would understand that this device has 24 years of research including 127 clinical studies by top institutions in the US. It has NO negative side effects. None. The only people who cannot use it are those who have certain models of pacemakers. It is FDA approved. There is absolutely NOTHING improper or dangerous about my recommendation. But then, you would know that if you had read the other thread and followed the links instead of being contrary and arguing with me.

If someone is serious about elevating their depression, then they'll take the time to look at this proven alternative to costly and dangerous drugs (which most take without question). If they enjoy their pain or are happy with having an excuse for their inaction then they'll say "hey, it's probably bullshit, so I'm not touching it". Fine by me. I only wish I would have known about this device 20 years ago-I wasted my thirties living with severe depression, CFS, and fibromyalgia. Hopefully, someone else who is reading this will get a free trial and spare themselves years of misery. IMO, it's irresponsible for me NOT to let them know about it.

[HuckleB]

34. Cite the studies then.

Are they double-blind, peer-reviewed, published studies? I sure hope so. Give some citations. Again, you are making a recommendation, and if so, this should not be difficult to do. I know full well the issues with medication. But I am certainly skeptical of something which claims to have no side effects. I want to see large studies that show this to be true. One person's claims do not suffice to create safety. Further, your own individual study of this appears to be very short in tenure. I hope this continues to help you over time, but such a short study, even with the thousands of participants it should have, would be under question. I understand your enthusiasm after all you've gone through. You should be ecstatic. However, that does not mean that this is definitely THE thing for everyone and should be recommended without question.

I've read the "other thread" and followed the links, by the way. Again, where are the peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled studies? I couldn't find any.

Citations with abstracts will do for now. I can go to the OHSU library and find the actual studies.

Salud.

[Lorien]

18. I have a similar small handheld unit-IT WORKS!!!

and it's been around for 24 years, but mental health professionals won't make big $$$ by prescribing it; once you buy it for less than $500) there are no other real costs, like follow up consultations. It's been proven far more effective than Prozac. I was diagnosed with clinical depression since age 15 (I'm 40 now), and for the past two months-the time I've been using it-I've been completely depression and insomnia free for the first time since my early teens. I posted about it over a month ago here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=276x1649

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. it is the HARRP Tesla Project that is causing the depression...video......

ESPECIALLY watch and listen to what they are saying about 18:50 - 24:20 :minutes into the documentary.. :scared:

http://mistakesweremade.com/vid/haarp-advanced_tesla_technology.ram

[smirkymonkey]

9. I couldn't get the video to run - could you explain

a bit more? Are these the waves that are supposed to control weather too?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. yes same waves.....realplayer is needed to veiw this documantary film....

advanced tesla technology HAARP

http://mistakesweremade.com/vid/haarp-advanced_tesla_technology.ram

[dbt]

12. THANK YOU for posting about HAARP!

Downloading the video now. Pity that WAY more people don't know about this "research project."

:scared:

[reprobate]

14. So our tinfoil hats really ARE necessary!

[HuckleB]

15. So there was no depression prior to HAARP?

:shrug:

[Xipe Totec]

11. Just like the wire-heads in Niven's Ringworld novels

Luis Wu, here we come...

[Nihil]

35. Exactly what sprang to my mind on seeing the title!

Strikes me that a droud would be a better investment than a year's
supply of big-Pharma drugs ...

[VegasWolf]

16. Is the brain going to have a USB 2.0 or firewire port? Can the brain

be ethernet enabled?

[slay]

20. Maybe if these Neo-con bastards wouldn't make the world such a depressing

place, we wouldn't need to be sticking wires in people's brains. Duh. :P

[fob]

22. My goodness, get bush* the industrial strength/size one stat!

bush* doesn't have ocd, he*s got wmd pretty bad though!

[DemExpat]

23. I will definitely try this instead of anti-D's if my depression returns

in full force ever again.

DemEx

[VegasWolf]

29. Welcome to the next generation of computer gaming. nt

[Chico Man]

31. My father in law had it done for Parkinsons

They hooked wired in his brain and put a battery in his chest.. and he was in and out of the hospital in 4 hours.

It seems to be working well though. They can actually reprogram it over the telephone.

[Lorien]

33. Cool!

Congrats to your dad-that's great news! :thumbsup: