The man suffers from joy for the first time in decades after treating brain stimulation

The man who lived with extremely resistant depression for more than 30 years is now in a remission, thanks to the new stimulation of the brain that targets selective areas of his brain.

Male She suffers from joy For the first time in decades after treatment. The first author of the study, a psychiatrist and professor at Minnesota University, told Gizmodo: “He was crying and saying:” I am not sad, I am just happy. I don’t know what to do with these feelings. “

NAHAS and a team of researchers in many universities have developed a personal way to plant electrodes and send weak electrical signals to the brain areas that are believed to be involved in depression. By setting this stimulus using the patient’s observations, the treatment enhanced the symptoms of the participant for up to two years. The results they reached detailed in a new prior layer psyxivWhich the peer has not yet been reviewed.

When depression resists treatment

The individual participant initially called the researchers while employing a new clinical trial. At that time, he lived with treatment resistant depression for three decades, after he was taken to hospital at the age of 13. Since then, he has undergone multiple hospitals and has tried dozens of treatments as well as intensive psychotherapy. He also tried to commit suicide three times.

Treatment -resistant depression is a common form of severe depression that does not significantly improve after at least two standard treatment, such as medications or treatment. In such cases, electrical therapy (ECT) – which stimulates the brain using weak electrical currents – is considered The next step. Although ECT is used for decades and can be effective for some patients, it fails for others.

In the case of this patient, the brain stimulating previously failed to relieve any symptoms. He had undergone two sessions of electrical stimulus. The first was moderately effective, but the second and the third did not bring any relief.

The problem is that most of the studies of electric shock therapy stimulate specific brain areas that depend on the standard atlas of the brain, Damian Fair, Neuroscience, a professor at the University of Minnesota and a co -author of the study, explained to Jizmodo. This means that researchers do not know often the field they target exactly, because everyone’s brain is different. “It is one approach that suits everyone.”

Designer

To address this, the team has developed a specially designed stimulation method for the participant’s mind. First, they used functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to draw a map of the boundaries of its brain networks previously associated with depression. Veer said that this exciting network of the patient, which treats external stimuli, was almost four times older than people who had no depression, and may contribute to its symptoms.

After that, the researchers surgically planted four groups of electrodes in the brain, on the borders of these brain networks. After a few days, they started sending electrical signals to each of the four networks individually.

When they motivated the default network (DMN), a group of areas associated with internal thinking operations, the patient began experimenting with happiness. Nayas called immediately fair. (Nihas) said: “You will not believe it. We have motivated the virtual network, (the participant) collapses with tears of joy. ”Fair remembers.

Stimulating the procedure mode network, which is involved in planning, and led the Solidience Network the man to report a calm. The targeting of the front network, which participates in decision -making, has improved focus.

During the next six months, the patient received electric motivation in different brain networks every day for one minute, every 5 minutes. The researchers continued to set stimulus each month using a statistical method that included the patient’s daily reactions.

By seven weeks after surgery, the participant no longer had suicide ideas. By six months, its symptoms improved significantly. By nine months, he entered a complete remission. Release continued for two years.

“The uniqueness of the pace combines accurate and individual targeting of multiple networks and setting the parameters so that the patient can get the most benefit.”

The team has since planted a second participant and planned to plant a third. In the end, they aim to conduct a dual -blind clinical trial.

Nahas recently received an e -mail from the original participant, who started a wild trip with his family. He said he was enjoying his journey. “In psychiatry, we do not have treatments, but this may be the closest we can get,” Nahs said.