PSYC 311 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16.8: Deep Brain Stimulation, Vagus Nerve, Nmda Receptor Antagonist

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 311
• Professor: Michalakis Petrides

Document Summary

Another experimental treatment for depression, electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, shows some promise of reducing the symptoms of depression. Vagus nerve stimulation provides an indirect form of brain stimulation. Evidence shows that an nmda antagonist, ketamine, may alleviate the symptoms of treatment-resistant. Injection of ketamine in animals reduced behaviours similar to those seen i depressed humans. Imaging studies of depressed humans showed increased levels of glutamate in the brain, which suggests that interference with glutaminergic transmission might have therapeutic effects. Two hours after ketamine injections, 70% of patients showed an improvement in their symptoms and 29% showed a remission in their symptoms: this positive response lasted for one week. The therapeutic effects of lithium which is used to treat bipolar disorder, is very rapid. It is administered in the form of lithium carbonate. It is most effective in treating the manic phase of a bipolar affective disorder; once the mania is eliminated, depressions typically does not follow.