Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025

05:19
Author Spotlight: Therapeutic Benefit of Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation in Depression Treatment
Published on: July 7, 2023
2.6K
Deep Brain Stimulation for Depression Informed by Intracranial Recordings
Sameer A Sheth1, Kelly R Bijanki1, Brian Metzger1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Biological Psychiatry
|January 22, 2022
Summary
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment-resistant depression shows promise when personalized. Intracranial recordings enabled optimized DBS parameters, leading to symptom remission and improved quality of life in a first-in-human case.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurosurgery
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is successful for Parkinson's disease.
- DBS for treatment-resistant depression yields varied results due to poor understanding of individual mood networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first subject treated with personalized DBS for treatment-resistant depression.
- To demonstrate a novel approach for optimizing DBS parameters using intracranial recordings.
Main Methods:
- Intracranial recordings were used to understand individual brain network behavior and stimulation response.
- A novel inverse solution approach calculated individually optimized DBS stimulation parameters.
- A double-blind, randomized phase evaluated the efficacy of personalized DBS.
Main Results:
- Personalized DBS led to symptom remission in the treated subject.
- A dramatic improvement in quality of life was observed.
- The feasibility of this personalized neuromodulation platform was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Personalized DBS, guided by intracranial recordings, offers a promising approach for treatment-resistant depression.
- This individualized platform may enhance surgical neuromodulation for various neurological and psychiatric disorders.

