Libra DBS Showing More Promise in Study

St. Jude Medical has released results of a Canadian study evaluating the effectiveness of the firm’s deep brain stimulation (DBS) system for treatment of drug resistant depression. The device is designed to send electrical signals to the Brodmann Area of the brain via implanted electrodes, a modality that looks more and more promising to alleviate symptoms in patients with advanced depression.

This study profiles 21 patients with DBS therapy in the area of the brain known as Brodmann Area 25, most of whom have completed one year of post-surgery evaluation. At six months, 62 percent of the patients experienced at least a 40-percent decrease in symptoms of depression as measured by a standardized test called the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Of these patients, 92 percent maintained this improvement at their last follow-up visit (typically at one year). Additionally, 71 percent of all patients in the study exhibited at least a 40-percent decrease in symptoms of depression as measured by the Hamilton scale.
Ongoing at three leading Canadian academic medical centers, the study utilizes the St. Jude Medical Libra® Deep Brain Stimulation System to deliver stimulation to an area of the brain known as Brodmann Area 25, which appears to become overactive in severely depressed people.
Patients in the study had suffered from depression for an average of 20 years, had tried in excess of 12 depression medications and were considered disabled or unable to work at the time of enrollment. At the 12-month evaluation point, eight of the study patients had returned to daily life activities such as school, work and sustaining relationships with family and friends, and two patients were considered to be in remission.

Press release: Patients in St. Jude Medical Deep Brain Stimulation for Depression Pilot Study Demonstrate Sustained Improvement in Depression Symptoms
Flashbacks: St. Jude Receives Patent for Anti Depression Neurostimulation Method; St. Jude Begins Trial of Deep Brain Stimulation for Depression; European Union Approves Deep Brain Stimulation Systems for Parkinson’s; Libra DBS for Parkinson’s Going Live in Europe