Comments on: Changing Minds: Area 25

Experimental Brain Surgery May Help The Severely Depressed

[t_end]

It is nice to know that surgery could help. I have only tried one medication, but the side effects of it have been with me a few months short of a year. However, nowhere in this article is it mentioned how much such a surgery would cost. Also it is doubtful most insurance companies would pay for such an operation. Since they consider only pyschical illness to be a disease.

[scott19632]

Overall I thought the story was very well done
and brought light to efforts being made in the
treatment of severe untreatable depression.
I would have preferred Ms. Stahl ended the story
with Dr. Mayberg who not only discovered area 25
but instructed the surgeon where to put the DBS.
Since the surgeon is neither a Psychiatris or Neurologist
and was only involved because he was at the University
it seems odd to have him discussing patient care.
One other oversight was the mentioning of Medtronics.
While the research did use a Medtronics stimulator there
involvement ended there. The Medtronic trial involves a
different part of the brain other than Area 25 and have yet
published in the scientific community a paper that shows
the success rate of Dr. Maybergs work in Area 25. Since
Medtronics is a publicly traded company it seems a correction
is inorder and the mentioning of them along with a still shot
of there corporate headquarters a mistake.

[edysmom]

i also am desparate for help. i am "treament resistant" as well, along with the meds i have had ect. my existence has become a literal hell on earth. is there anything in the states yet, even experimental? our community of people who do not respond to the present protocol of treatment need help and acknowlegement. edysmom @ [e-mail]

[squirrel5911]

Hello,
My name is Phil. I have had depression and bipolar disorders for atleast 10 years but that is when I was diagnosed with it. My doctors think I had it much longer than that. I saw this story last night and all I could think of is to give my life to get that operation. I am trying to get SSI but as I am sure alot of people know the government doesn't see depression or many maybe even any mental illness as a disability. The government sees us as lazy people wanting to get out of work and that is how we feel when we can't work. I litterally cannot get up and leave my apartment. I sleep in surplus of 14hrs a day and that is if I sleep. My entire family suffers from depression and over 11 people on my moms side of the family have atttempted suicide and 3 succeded. I have tried countless times and all I want to do is die. I feel there is no point to life. I have been on over 20 different drugs and nothing works. All I want is to be a normal contributing citizen working like everyone else. But, what people don't understand is how hard it is for us. I am asking you guys if there is any way I can get to be a part of this new medicine? I will give anything to be a test subject. I would give every limb and organ I could just to be a part of it, hell I would give my life too. Please help me. I beg you.
[e-mail]
Please help.

[vipaka]

I commend Leslie Stahl for believing that those of us who suffer from depression deserve to be brought to the fore in this world. Now our truth is open and bare. We're empty people, ready to be filled. And because we have walked through these shoes we have greater understanding for others. We can put ourselves in another's place and see and feel what they do. Living in depression is, like tell me where I am, so I know where to go. I've been waiting for someone to make me feel alive again.

[peace0000]

1)It would be great if it works
2)It will save the government and insurance companys a lot of money

3)It will put alot of people back in the work force
4) It will put a lot of psychology people out of work
5) When you take away a persons survival drives, (as in todays society) they become depressed. They need to be in control of thier own desinty and future.

[jfploeg-2009]

Dear Ms. Stahl

A very interesting report on a possible treatment for depression. In the report it was mentioned that they had tried everything to help their condition. However, I did not hear any mention of NUTRITION. Most if not all conditions of depression and anxiety are related to nutritional deficiencies.

I suggest your staff research the work of Orthomolecular Medicine specialists like Dr. Abram Hoffer. Or look into the messages of Jefffrey S. Bland, PhD, and many other Nutritional Biochemists out there. Also listen to the taped broadcast program by Mr. Jay D. Foster at

http://1800chemist.com/HealthConnection/taped/05-06-04.ram

His Home pages is http://1800chemist.com/HealthConnection/index.html

There are routine analyses that can establish the nutritional needs that will address the specifics of the problem for each individual. It is sad to see people suffering unnecessarily.

A follow up 60 Minutes segment, telling the %u201Cwhole story%u201D would be in order.

Sincerely,

Johan F. Ploeg

[tchii-2009]

the therapist, pschyologist, pschyitrist-and drug companies and the rest must be shaking in their boots. THE DRUGS ONLY HELP, ONLY HELP THE DISEASE AT ABOUT 25-30%. THE DRUGS ONLY BOOST U UP A LEVEL, IF U ARE LUCKY. THEY DO NOT MAKE MANY FEEL NORMAL. IF THIS WORKS, A LOT OF DOCS. R GOING TO HAVE TO SELL THEIR BMW'S. SOME DOCS. HAVE VESTED INTEREST(MONEY) TO SEE THIS FAIL. EVEN, FAMILY PRACTICE DOCS. GET ABOUT 1/3 OF THEIR PATIENCE FROM DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. THEY WILL BE LOSING MONEY. NO WONDER THIS FIRST APPEARED NATIONALLY FROM CANADA. THOSE WONDERFUL U.S. DOCTORS. FOLLOW THE MONEY.

[smiley101161]

I have been depression since I was a little girl. I don't have much of a life. I have family members commit suicide. 5 months ago my uncle kill himself because of depression. I have try so many different medication and nothing works. Please help me. I want to feel human. I want to know what it is like to want to live in peace sometimes.
Please e-mail me [e-mail]
Please help me.

[gryphonder]

My family has a long history of mental illness. My maternal grandfather died in a mental institution. My Mother struggled with severe depression for as long as I could remember. She was in and out of mental institutions, tried several times to commit suicide, drank herself into a stupor every night, saw psychiatrists, had shock treatments, took all kinds of drugs, and nothing worked. I started having major depressive episodes when I was 7. I started seeing psyciatrists in my early 20's. I finally started taking antidepressants about 10 years ago, but I still get severely depressed.It is sheer will power that gets me up to go to work and take care of my children. My 15 year daughter is being treated for depression and anxiety. I understand why my mother tried to end her life so many times. Death is the sweet temptation that must be resisted every day. It didn't occur to me that the depression would get worse as the years went by. When I was younger I could cover it better and snap out of it quicker. Now it lasts longer, and I never feel really recovered. I consider this to be one of the most debilitating and hopeless diseases. I have had cancer and was told I would probably die. Depression has been far worse for me. I pray that an effective treatment for all people afflicted with this disorder becomes available in the near future. I don't want my daughter to suffer as I have, as her grandmother before me, and her great grandfather have.

[carriebr]

I feel your pain, so deep within me, I cry for you all. It makes me so sad to think there are so many of you out there who have to suffer like this. If I could take it all from you and be the only one to suffer, I would. I didn't know there were more of us. I will pray for all of you! Everyday. For so long I have not cried but I can't seem to stop now. I am so sorry for you all, I am so sorry for us all. Help us all!
[e-mail]

[callieebbie]

For those of you interested in the segment regarding depression and the brain surgery,I saw a program on another network several weeks ago where they performed a similar surgery. I believe it is still in the experimental stages. It was performed at the Cleveland Clinic and another hospital in Florida. I went to the networks Web site immediately after the program but was unable to find any information. Not only is the operation frightening and the device implanted in your chest, but imagine another person in control of the computer device which controls a portion of your brain even though he or she is a doctor. After years and years of drugs, doctors, and desperation I am very interested in this surgery.

[mulaca1]

I read the interesting article reported by Lesley Stahl on a revelutionary technique to address severe mental illness. I was shocked that so many people are affected by depression and cannot be treated by medication. The disease obviously affects so many others who watch their loved ones struggle everyday to combat this debilitating illness. These people are doubly victimized by the illness itself and by the fact that they are so stigmatized by a society that does not understand this illness. This new treatment will hopefully be used more often in appropriate situations so that more people like the nurse in your story can be treated successfully and allowed to live fuller lives.

[blord21]

I've read many of the other comments, and I'll not waste any time with the gory details. I have been treated by psychiatrists for 30 years. I have been on just about every antidepressant there is. I lie on my bed (on dirty sheets) all day and night watching TV with my two cats. I used to be really engaged in life, but I'm just too tired to fight anymore. I watch my life spiraling out of control... and think about dying every day. I can't do my laundry. I don't shower. I go shopping once a week for food for me and the kitties -- and cat litter. My little apartment is a mess. My car is falling apart, as is my body from lack of activity and caring by others. (Even my own children have given up on me.)

I would give ANYTHING to be included in the upcoming U.S.trials. Is there anyone out there who could get me information?

PLEASE HELP. I am desperate to have a life for the little time I have left.

Bonnie
[e-mail]

[paulrieker]

1976 my mother committed suicide
in 30 days in 1984 a gentleman cleared my severe depression in less than 30 days.

The techniques used allowed the Anger and Fear, embedded in the subconscious without human language to become identified and desensitized.

The specific techniques are not widely known today.

I'd love to share this story with you.

Paul Rieker
www.BlessYourThoughts.com

[jyll2]

to greenwonder...i am a believer in good nutrition and eliminating as many chemicals and chemically processed foods as possible from your diet. But please, you need more education on depression. These people are not suffering from severe depression because they have too much processed sugar in their diet. This is a debilitating form of the DISEASE. While I think nutrition is very important, you can't argue with the brain scans nor with the results that these people have gotten. I have seen another program on this same process and those people interviewed were also sooo much better off than they were before the operation and their quality of life has improved immensely! Please educate yourself a little more before recommending something as simple as nutritional changes, that should be step one, not your last resort. Once again, proving the old adage, a little knowledge is dangerous....

[rockstarztv]

Dear Leslie,

On June 4, 1994 I was mountain climbing and fell
over 30 feet. I was in a coma with post-hematoma syndrome (bleeding of the brain). Since then I have seen many Dr.'s and Psychiatrist for post concussion and presently have post traumatic syndrome. I am a veteran of the US Army and the government has also diagnosed me with post-tramtic syndrome. I was a successful young college graduate at the time of the accident, but since then I must say life has had its ups and downs. Dr. Hosapian, my VA psychiatrist has said that I have massive depression. My Kaiser Dr. at the time of the accident told me that I should not go back to work in 1995, but I tried and have lost many jobs due to my condition.
My question to you is can I be a candidate for the treatment you aired on Sundays 60 minutes?
I do not like taking the pills that Dr.'s consistently give me with no recovery to the problems I have.
Please help me and or give me the contacts to become a candidate for research.
This was quite a story you did and I commend you on your reporting of this incredible phenomenon.
It could be the answer to many War Veterans who suffer from the same symstoms I do!
Again great story!
Dan Johnston

[greenwonder-2009]

I heard no mention of nutrition in the story. Many can't believe it, but what you eat is a large determiner of who you are, how you feel, your energy level, etc. Anyone who suffers from depression could start by simply removing white sugar and corn syrup/high fructose corn syrup from their diet IMMEDIATELY. Switch to maple syrup, RAW (not processed) honey, and/or agave nectar which are all very tasty. Next I would highly recommend a detox diet/cleanse then working into a whole foods diet with no processed or refined food. Next, exercise. I realize this all sounds difficult to people with serious depression, but it must be included as part of the attempt. I have a new life now through natural means. If you want to contact me, feel free: [e-mail]

[francierose-2009]

Please, I would like to be in the trials for the treatment of depression you described tonight on 60 Minutes.

Please get me in touch with the persons who can make this decision, This would be a Godsend for me.
my name is Frances Rose, address, 3405 Erickson St. C-7, Gig Harbor, WA 98335.
Phone [phone], Thank you!!!

[r565138666]

I am ben depressed for 40 year,a RN and a med school drop out,4 kids,to many hospitalizations to remember starting at 16.I was molested from 3 to 15 and a stranger tried to strangle me and raped me in front of my 2 year old. I have had cancer several times. What do I have to live for I tell myself.I hate myself.I hate life.I am drug resistant.ECT so many times has given me brain injury and memory lossIs there any kind soul out there willing to help? I beg I plead..I would give anything! I gave 20 some years to healthcare field delivering babies and sick/dying kids please,please, please I pray, not for me but my kids.it is not fair to have a mom in bed AND NOT SHOWER OR GO ANYWHERE or have friends over.it breaks my heart..but what am I to do...I will give my right arm,my corneas, anything, voulnter work,teach lamaze again,,anything..just make me function. Is there any Dr with a soft spot for me in their heart..703-541-2149. they won't be sorry. I used to be the most kind giving person on earth Now I am a vegetable...thanks Roberta