Brain Stimulator Takes Time to Fight Depression, But Benefit Lasts

A brain implant can help fight depression in patients for whom other treatments are ineffective, but the therapy can take as long as a year to show benefit, reveals new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
In a small study, researchers followed 24 patients who were implanted with vagus nerve stimulators (VNS) after other treatments proved ineffective in battling their severe depression.
Brain scans revealed changes in brain activity three months in to implant therapy and continued to evolve over 21. "The effects come after a significant period of treatment time," reports lead investigator Charles Conway, M.D. "In psychiatry, we're used to seeing results after six to 12 weeks."
Scientists also observed parallels between the brain changes and mood improvements in the patients. The brain scans revealed changes similar to those induced by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a controversial depression treatment from which benefits are often short-lived....

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