Unlocking pain: deep brain stimulation might be the key to easing depression and chronic pain

IEEE Pulse. 2015 Mar-Apr;6(2):16-20. doi: 10.1109/MPUL.2014.2386511.

Abstract

Depression and chronic pain know no geographical boundaries. About 350 million people around the world experience long-lasting sadness and an unshakeable sense of hopelessness, and one person out of ten tries to live each day to its fullest despite continuous physical pain. These two difficult conditions frequently coexist, becoming more common with age. Looking ahead, we can expect the incidence of depression and chronic illness to grow, since more people over age 65 will populate the world by 2020 than children younger than five.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Pain / therapy*
  • Deep Brain Stimulation* / economics
  • Deep Brain Stimulation* / history
  • Deep Brain Stimulation* / instrumentation
  • Deep Brain Stimulation* / methods
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • United States