Severe clinical depression is primarily and successfully treated with a combination of antidepressants and talk-therapy, but for aggressive depression that does not respond to that, there is an experimental treatment that may be a solution - deep brain stimulation.

In a recent study, four out of six patients suffering from severe depression underwent deep brain stimulation and saw significant results in their depression symptoms. The study was reported in the medical journal Neuron.

Deep brain stimulation is a treatment that has been used with some positive results in patients with epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. It is a procedure that involves implanting electrodes in specific parts of the brain thought to affect depression.

Patients in the study reported that they felt an increased interest, awareness, and less anxiety when the electrodes were activated. They also showed signs of faster motor functions, more energy, and more spontaneous speech.

The study is encouraging for patients who have typically gone through years of drug therapy or electroshock therapy to then find that it doesn't work.

Source: Reuters

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Lisa Angelettie is an author, counselor, & coach on mental health, relationship, and other life issues for women. You can also visit her at http://www.girlshrink.com Please visit us for more discussion on this topic in the depression forum to talk about it further. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for topics in the news, new articles, website & book reviews, and other useful depression resources. Subscribe below.