Deep brain stimulation: A technological solution for mental health sufferers

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• May 6, 2022

Insight summary

Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a technology involving brain implants to regulate chemical imbalances, is showing promise in enhancing mental well-being and preventing self-harm. The technology is in early stages of research, with recent studies exploring its effectiveness in treating severe depression, and it could garner attention from investors eyeing its potential. However, it also brings serious ethical considerations, including potential misuse by authoritarian regimes, and requires stringent regulatory frameworks to ensure safe and ethical deployment.

Deep brain stimulation context

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) involves implanting electrodes into certain areas of the brain. These electrodes then produce electrical signals that can regulate abnormal brain impulses or affect specific cells and chemicals within the brain.

A case study published in January 2021—led by Katherine Scangos, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and her colleagues at the University of California San Francisco—identified the effects of gentle stimulation of various mood-related brain regions in a patient suffering from treatment-resistant depression. The stimulation helped alleviate various symptoms of the patient’s condition, including anxiety, as well as improved the patient’s energy levels and enjoyment of ordinary tasks. In addition, the advantages of stimulating different locations varied depending on the patient's mental state.
 
For this experiment, researchers mapped out a depressed patient's brain circuitry. The research team then determined biological indicators that showed the onset of symptoms and implanted a device that delivered focused electrical stimulation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the researchers an exploratory exemption for the implant they used, termed a NeuroPace device. However, the device has not been authorized for more widespread use to treat depression. The treatment is being researched primarily as a possible treatment for people suffering from severe depression, which are resistant to most forms of treatment and are at high risk of suicide.

Disruptive impact

DBS technology is on the cusp of attracting significant attention from investors and venture capitalists, especially if ongoing human trials continue to show promise. By maintaining a chemical equilibrium in the brain, it may become a powerful tool in preventing self-harm and enhancing individuals' overall well-being. This development could foster a more productive workforce, as individuals lead more fulfilling personal and professional lives. Moreover, the influx of investments would facilitate further testing in safe and controlled environments, paving the way for more refined and advanced DBS technologies.

As DBS technologies advance, they may offer an alternative to traditional psychiatry services and prescription drugs, particularly for individuals dealing with depression. This shift could fundamentally alter the landscape for pharmaceutical companies, nudging them to channel investments into medical implant technologies and startups. Psychiatrists, too, might find themselves adapting to the changing landscape, seeking education on DBS technologies to understand when it is appropriate to recommend such interventions. This transition represents a potential paradigm shift in mental health care, with a move away from drug therapies to more direct, perhaps more effective, interventions targeting the brain's chemistry.

For governments, the emergence of DBS technologies presents a fresh avenue to foster public health and well-being. However, it also brings forth ethical considerations and regulatory challenges. Policymakers may need to craft guidelines that ensure the safe and ethical deployment of DBS technologies, balancing innovation with the necessity to prevent potential misuse or over-reliance on such interventions. 

Implications of deep brain stimulation

Wider implications of deep brain stimulation may include: 

• A surge in the number of patients recovering from depression who had previously been unresponsive to all other forms of treatment, leading to a substantial improvement in their quality of life.
• A notable decrease in suicide rates in communities and populations that have historically experienced high incidences as individuals gain access to more effective mental health treatments.
• Pharmaceutical companies reshaping their product lines to work in tandem with DBS treatments, potentially leading to the creation of hybrid treatment plans that leverage both medication and technology.
• Governments setting stringent standards for the utilization of DBS technologies, ensuring a framework that safeguards users from potential misuse while maintaining ethical considerations in the forefront.
• The risk of authoritarian regimes leveraging dDBS to exert control over their populations on a large scale, posing serious ethical and human rights dilemmas and potentially leading to international tensions and conflicts.
• A shift in the labor market with a potential decrease in the demand for psychiatrists and an increase in the demand for professionals specialized in the maintenance and operation of DBS technologies.
• The emergence of new business models in the healthcare sector, where companies might offer DBS as a service, potentially leading to subscription models for ongoing monitoring and adjustment of the implants.
• A demographic shift where older populations who benefit from a DBS experience enhanced cognitive function and mental well-being, potentially leading to an increase in the age of retirement as individuals are able to maintain productive work lives for longer periods.
• Technological advancements fostering the development of more sophisticated DBS devices, which may lead to the integration of artificial intelligence to predict and prevent mental health crises before they occur.
• Environmental concerns arising from the manufacturing and disposal of DBS devices.

Questions to consider

• What possible undiscovered side effects do you believe DBS therapies might have on patients?
• Who do you believe will be responsible and hold liability if these DBS therapies prove to be dangerous to a person's health?