US anti-depressant implant pending approval
- 24 May 05, 12:00 AM
Interesting yet a tad scary this in a 50s sci fi movie way. According to the International Herald Tribune website, the US Food and Drug Administration an electronic implant that treats severe depression in those for whom other treatments have failed.
It has caused some controversy, however, with many experts not sure why it has come this far down the road to approval with so little scientific evidence that it works.
The device is similar to a pacemaker. It is fitted in the chest and sends electric pulses through wires to a point in the neck known as the Vagus nerve. This nerve has wide connections through the brain and is said to be involved in reflexes and other auto responses.
Electronics instead of chemical drugs could, however, be a fantastic thing!
Monkey is reminded of a little walkman like device called an Alpha Stim that I had the pleasure of testing about 5 years ago. No surgery involved: you attached clips to each earlobe and it delivered a small electrical current - apparently across the brain - and was said to reduce depression and anxiety, amongst other claims.
And when it comes to surgery, how about a bit of , an alternative to the usual knocking out chemical injections or gas?
Crippled Monkey looks forward to becoming a cyborg in the not too distant future and, yes, would be happy to accept '7 of 9' for his bride.
Comments
So is this nothing more than built-in ECT therapy?
Eek. It's that phrase "a small electrical current" that scares me. I'd be too worried about it going wrong or receiving interference from the kettle in the kitchen, or something!!!