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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffDeep brain stimulation involves implanting electrodes within the part of your brain that affects mood. During deep brain stimulation, electrical impulses transmitted through the electrodes deep within the brain affect brain cells and chemicals to relieve depression. The amount of stimulation delivered by the electrodes is controlled by a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin in your upper chest. A wire that travels under your skin connects the device, called a pulse generator, to the electrodes in your brain.
Although it's approved for other conditions, deep brain stimulation for depression hasn't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It's still being studied as an experimental treatment. Most candidates for deep brain stimulation are participants in clinical trials.
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