Archive for the Depression Treatment category

Depression treatment options and results

by admin on June 11th, 2011

A radical new brain operation, a procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation, is being used on patients suffering severe depression. The procedure has been performed for the first time in Australia at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Associate Professor Richard Bittar, Neurosurgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital, describes the procedure and its almost immediate effects. Dr.Richard Bittar, Precision Neurosurgery Director MBBS (Honours), PhD, FRACS Dr. Richard Bittar is a highly qualified Australian neurosurgeon and researcher. Dr. Bittar is a visiting neurosurgeon at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Frankston Hospital, and numerous Private Hospitals in Melbourne. He is also Director of Precision Neurosurgery. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) works by targeting one of several areas in the brain that are part of the movement disorder pathway. By placing a fine wire (electrode) very precisely within the desired area, we are able to introduce a small amount of electrical current to these areas, which causes deactivation of the nerve cells. This electrode is connected to a battery which is implanted under the skin, allowing a small pulse of electricity to be delivered 24 hours a day. The most commonly targeted regions are the subthalamic nucleus (STN), thalamus (Vim), pallidum (GPi), and pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in Parkinson’s disease, the thalamus (Vim) for essential tremor and multiple sclerosis tremor, and the pallidum (GPi) in dystonia. Precision Neurosurgery is a superspecialty …

News on Depression

Cigna Recognizes and Supports Moms during Maternal Depression Awareness Month - Yahoo Finance

A mother’s emotional health is as important as her physical health during pregnancy and after delivery. That’s why, during May, Maternal Depression Awareness Month, Cigna (NYSE: CI - News) is encouraging soon-to-be and new mothers to get ...

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Tropical Depression Swirling Off Mexico Coast With 35 MPH Winds - Bloomberg

Tropical Depression Aletta is swirling at sea today far off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast with 35 mph winds, and will likely become a remnant low in a day or so, the National Hurricane Center said. The Miami-based center also said a nearly ...

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Blood test to predict postnatal depression - Times of India

Scientists think that a simple and accurate blood test could help identify women who are most likely to suffer from postnatal depression in advance. PND affects one in seven women and is far more severe than 'baby blues. Mothers may struggle to ...

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Kennedys Reveal Depths of Mary's Depression - Newser

(Newser) – Friends and relatives of Mary Kennedy have opened up about the depression she struggled with for many years. They describe Kennedy, who hanged herself at her Westchester home this week, as a friendly, generous woman, but one who was ...

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Depression: some experts think we might be overdiagnosed, and overmedicated - Cleveland Plain Dealer

"No one is saying anymore, 'I feel sad' or 'I feel disappointed' or 'I feel unhappy.' They say, 'I'm depressed.' When someone says that to a doctor or therapist, the doctor or therapist doesn't seem to need convincing." Eric Maisel, psychologist ...

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