Psychiatry's shocking new tools [brain stimulation techniques]

This paper describes several new brain stimulation techniques for treating patients suffering from severe depression. These techniques involve the use of electronic implants that send signals to specific points of the brain to reduce or eliminate severe chronic depression in some people. They are more effective alternatives to such treatment options as psychiatric counselling as well as drug and electroconvulsive therapy since their effects are longer lasting and they do not cause any side effects. These techniques are: vagus nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic seizure therapy, transcranial direct current stimulation, and deep brain stimulation.