Researchers say neurosurgery may cure depressed individuals

By Staff Writer

PBS reports that approximately 4 percent of adolescents develop serious depression each year. Severe bouts of this mood disorder can lead to a variety of problems, such as academic underachievement, peer relationship issues and suicidal ideation.

Although some parents rely on certain types of psychotherapy and anti-depressant medications, often times these treatments prove costly and ineffective. Researchers from the University of Bristol recently revealed that they may have developed a type of neurosurgical treatment that can help people who suffer from depression.

The study found that the combination of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and anterior cingulotomy surgery has cured a patient who previously suffered from severe depression. DBS consists of inserting thin wires into the brain that inhibit and stimulate certain brain circuits that are associated with the emotional condition.

Although DBS has been shown to help certain patients, some people do not respond - or are not suitable - for the treatment. One patient who fell into this category received an anterior cingulotomy using implantable guide tubes, which modify circuits in the brain that contribute to a number of psychiatric disorders.

Researchers suggested that these methods may be beneficial for patients who do not have success using conventional forms of treatment. They said that each time a medical treatment does not work, there is a decrease in probability that the next treatment will be effective.

Parents may consider enrolling their depressed adolescents into wilderness therapy programs, which aim to provide help for troubled teens.