medpage TODAY publised a nice summary of neuromodulatory approaches for depression. The following topics are discussed:- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Magnetic seizure therapy
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Deep brain stimulation
- Transcranial direct current stimulation
- Implantable cortical stimulation
The new(er) kid on the block is obviously Implantable cortical stimulation, the author writes about this technique:
Another early-stage investigational technology takes vagus nerve stimulation a step farther. Instead of delivering electrical pulses to a nerve, it sends them to the surface of the brain. Seattle-based Northstar Neurosciences is testing a system that, like vagus nerve stimulation, inserts a pulse generator in the patient's chest. An electrical lead is passed into the skull through a surgically drilled hole, terminating on the dural membrane over the cortex.
