Posted by phillybob on April 6, 2001, at 17:49:46
In reply to Re: Bipolar Dis. Seizures - Is there a connection?, posted by kate9999 on April 6, 2001, at 1:30:04
Here's a link to an article on the neuro-cybernetic prosthesis (a pacemaker type device, I believe) which has been approved and used for epilepsy, but since those who've used it experienced improvement in mood, it has been tried successfully for depression (read it in a magazine, but haven't looked online further than what's attached).
The version used for depression was this nerve-zapping device going off every 5 minutes with a 30 second shock (which caused voice alteration but easy to get used to; also, shortness of breath so it can be turned off during exercise).
"Vagus Nerve Stimulator
The first procedure done in Tallahassee for the implantation of the Vagus Nerve Stimulator was performed January 22, 1999 at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital by local physicians - Dr. Mark Cuffe, Dr. Christopher Rumana and Dr. Ricardo Ayala. Since then many additional patients have benefited from this procedure being done locally. The Neuro Cybernetic Prosthesis System (Vagus Nerve Stimulator) was developed by Cyberonics after 15 years of research and clinical studies. The Vagus Nerve Stimulator was approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 16, 1997 for use as an add-on therapy in reducing the frequency of seizures in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age who have partial onset seizures which are refractory to antiepileptic medications. The role of the neurologist in treating patients who have this implanted device is to program and monitor the device that controls the electrical stimulations of the Vagus Nerve along with managing the antiepileptic medications. The surgeon plays a more technical role in the care of these patients, he is responsible for the placement of the electrode and stimulator and for the follow-up surgical care.
Currently under investigation at several university centers is the use of the Vagus Nerve Stimulator in the treatment of depression. During prior clinical trials for epilepsy treatment, the investigators had noticed that patient’s with seizures who also suffered from clinical depression showed an improvement in their depression. This beneficial “side-effect” has been well documented and the results from current clinical trials are encouraging. Within the next couple of years, the vagus nerve stimulator may prove to be an additional, effective therapy for patients with clinical depression." ( http://www.tnc-neurosurgery.com/neurosurgery/vagus.htm )
poster:phillybob
thread:58836
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010403/msgs/58969.html