*Warning: This article discusses topics such as depression and suicide. If you are having problems or know someone who is, see at the end of the text where you can ask for support.
Deep brain stimulation — a technique that uses electrodes implanted in specific areas of the brain — may work for some people with severe depression who don’t improve with medication or therapy.
In a study published Tuesday (11/18) in the journal Nature Communications, researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China analyzed 26 patients and showed that half of them had a significant response to deep brain stimulation treatment. But even more important was the discovery of the “electrical signal” that helps predict who is most likely to improve.
Researchers explain that refractory depression is one of the biggest challenges in psychiatry. Many people undergo various types of antidepressants, psychotherapy and other treatments without getting adequate rest.
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The team investigated whether stimulating deep regions of the brain — particularly the so-called bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), responsible for stress and anxiety, and the nucleus accumbens associated with motivation — could reorganize dysregulated brain circuits.
During the one-year follow-up, 13 of the 26 participants saw a steady reduction in symptoms, and nine achieved almost complete remission.
But the central point of the research was identifying the biomarker: Patients who had less electrical activity in the theta range (4 to 8 Hz) in the BNST before surgery were more likely to respond well to stimulation.
According to the article, this electrical pattern was not only present before treatment, but also changed during stimulation. When theta activity decreased, symptoms also improved, reinforcing the idea that this signal could guide more precise interventions.
To reach these conclusions, the team combined intracranial recordings, imaging tests, psychological evaluations, and computational models. They also identified that communication between the prefrontal cortex and the BNST is fundamental to this process, forming a circuit that appears to be directly linked to the patient’s improvement in condition.
Scientists suggest that in the future, the stimulation device itself could work adaptively, adjusting the intensity of electrical impulses to the brain’s response.
The authors highlight that the results are promising, but still preliminary, and that a more rigorous clinical trial is needed to confirm the results.
*If you are suffering from depression, having suicidal thoughts, or know someone who is, seek support. You can call or chat with the following services:
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- Center for the Value of Life (CVV): 188 (24 hours, free and confidential call) or via the website cvv.org.br;
- SAMO: 192 in medical emergencies;
- Local mental health services CRAS/CRAS and SUS also provide psychological support.
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