Brain Pacemaker Trials Offer Hope for Treatment-Resistant Depression
About 30% of people with depression do not respond to standard treatments. Researchers are testing deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a potential option, delivering electrical pulses via implanted electrodes to the brain’s white matter to gradually help escape a depressive state. DBS for depression is not FDA-approved and is available only in clinical trials, including UT Southwestern and the TRANSCEND study. Eligibility typically includes major depressive disorder with multiple failed treatments. If results are positive, FDA approval could come within several years, expanding options beyond ECT, TMS, and ketamine.
