The Careggi Hospital in Florence is carrying out trials on medical technologies against drug-resistant depression.

14 /05/07 - The Careggi Hospital in Florence is carrying out trials on medical technologies against drug-resistant depression. The trials involve the use of a pacemaker located in the neck and connected to the vagus nerve and the stimulation of the cerebral cortex with electromagnetic waves crossing the cranium.

The future of psychiatric treatment against drug-resistant depression lies with trials with these advanced medical technologies. The trials are being carried out by Careggi Hospital's Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences headed by Professor Gianfranco Placidi.

There are currently 16 patients on whom these new technologies will be tested: 12 patients for the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and 4 for the pacemaker.

The announcement was made at the first National Seminar on New Stimulation Therapies to Treat Depression held in Florence on Tuesday, 15th May in the Luigi Amaducci Hall of Careggi Hospital.

"30% of patients suffering from serious depression do not respond to drug treatment. In these cases it is fundamental to reduce both anxiety and the intensity of symptoms" stated Stefano Pallanti, organiser of the seminar and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Florence. He will also take the results of the research being carried out in Florence to the US where these new medical technologies are being developed. "The stimulation of the vagus nerve with a special type of pacemaker as well as treatments with electromagnetic waves on the cerebral cortex through the cranium are giving promising results."

Source: AdnKronos

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