Transient acute depression induced by high-frequency deep-brain stimulation
Article Abstract:
Researchers report the case of a 65-year-old woman who experienced an episode of depression shortly after high-frequency brain stimulation. Electric stimulation of an area of the brain called the basal ganglia is sometimes used to treat people with Parkinson's disease. She had electrodes implanted in her basal ganglia on both sides to treat Parkinson's disease. Five seconds after her left brain was stimulated, she appeared sad and four minutes later was exhibiting the symptoms of severe depression. One minute after the stimulation stopped, she was laughing and appeared to be normal. Only stimulation to her left brain caused these symptoms.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Parkinson's disease, depression, and electrical stimulation of the brain
Article Abstract:
A 1999 report suggests that there may be an area in the brain that produces symptoms of depression when stimulated. The report discusses the case of a woman with no history of depression who was treated with electrical stimulation of her brain for severe Parkinson's disease. When a small area in her left hemisphere called the substantia nigra was stimulated, within five minutes she displayed all the symptoms of depression. Her mode quickly improved when the stimulation stopped. Electrical stimulation of the brain might be used to treat psychological disorders and drug addiction.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Costs to society of family caregiving for patients with end-stage Alzheimer's disease
Article Abstract:
Alzheimer's disease costs American business about $61 billion each year. About half of this cost is lost productivity because caregivers must quit their jobs or cut back their work hours to care for family members who have Alzheimer's disease. Many caregivers become depressed because of the enormous burden they must carry.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2003
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: 90K protein: a new predictor marker of disease progression in human immunodeficiency virus infection. Survival prognosis of HIV-infected patients
- Abstracts: Management and effects of parenteral nutrition. A nurse-led gynecology emergency assessment service. Toilet facilities in school
- Abstracts: Sexual transmission and the natural history of human herpesvirus 8 infection. Propagating Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
- Abstracts: Male hypogonadism due to a mutation in the gene for the beta-subunit of follicle-stimulating hormone. Effect of CD3delta deficiency on maturation of alpha/beta and gamma/delta T-cell lineages in severe combined immunodeficiency
- Abstracts: The Relationship Between Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression and Colorectal Cancer. Effects of perioperative administration of a selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor on pain management and recovery of function after knee replacement: a randomized controlled trial