Many folks have asked for “medical stuff” (enough computer viruses how about human ones?) so, this is about some gadgetry which has caused an earthquake in the treatment of depression.
Many folks have episodes of Depression through their lives, tied to events or not. In most, they resolve without the need for intervention. In many though, medications (thank G-d for them) are needed (and they work well for most, Mr. Cruise). They aren’t uniformly successful, and can cause problems (occasionally severe). They often need change, and for those in whom they failed, or caused other problems only behavioral therapy or ECT (electro-convulsive shock) remained as possibilities.
Now there’s something new: DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation). This form of therapy was initially found for movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease, and the like), and experimentally for anti-pain treatment.
In this form of treatment, electrodes are placed by a Neurosurgical team in problem areas. These devices work very similarly to heart pace makers: There’s a battery and miniprocessor (externally programmable) and electrodes (single or double) on wires placed beyond the problem area of electrical blockage. Some of these devices also function as defibrillators.
So, what does it look like?
Just like that.
Where does it go? In Brodmann Area 25 which is a sort of “conduit” of fibers going from the frontal lobe to the limbic area (regular and in 3D from the Wikipedia):
Graphically:
And in real life:
So, the patient is mildly sedated during the procedure and as electrodes are stimulated, describes his/her feelings. Various electrodes along the wire are stimulated until a helpful one is found. The generator is then programmed and placed under the skin (just like a pacemaker) and wires run under the skin to a connection point (in the xray, the four horizontal bars).
So…. As requested… some medical stuff.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodmann_area_25
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=12999&cn=5
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/10/11/area-25-may-help-the-severely-depressed/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/106460.php
http://www.empowher.com/depression/content/depression-and-brodmann-area-25
http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/27/new-study-of-dbs-for-depression/2518.html