Posted by linkadge on August 13, 2008, at 16:14:25
In reply to Re: meds and belief systems » Bob, posted by SLS on August 13, 2008, at 13:26:16
I would think that DBS is a cleaner procedure than rTMS of ECT.
The hyperactivity of area 25 may be a result of lack of ability of the prefrontal cortex to inhibit activity in this region. The atrophy seen in the prfrontal cortex in many familial lines of depression may result in a poor ability to restrain these limbic regions. By enhacing activity in the prefrontal cortex, rTMS may be doing the same as DBS. Like SLS said, DBS can work almost imediately. There may be a depression region, i.e. hyperactivity in a certain region generates depressive thoughts and feelings.
Responce to things like sleep deprivation are also associated with blood flow changes i.e. reduced activity in area 25, increased bloodflow to the right parietal lobe etc.
This study shows that a few weeks of venlafaxine therapy are needed to intiate the same reduction in activity in these regions.
http://biopsychiatry.com/venlafaxine-brain.htm
So, all the monoamine crap may just be a dirty method of dampening hyperactive bloodflow to a certain region.
I don't know about you, but I'd rather have a small implant that does the same thing than have to take high doses of drugs which can negatively effect multiple areas of the brain and body.
DBS IMHO may actually be an overal safer approach.
Linkadge
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thread:844053
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080805/msgs/845971.html