Somatic Therapies for Treatment- Resistant Depression: New Neurotherapeutic Interventions

Until recently, few treatments for major depression other than pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy have been available. This article reviews recent data from the field of somatic therapies for treatment-resistant depression. Examples of neurotherapeutic interventions for major depression include ablative limbic system surgeries (eg, anterior cingulotomy and subcaudate tractotomy), vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and deep brain stimulation. The article briefly discusses the role of each of these neurotherapeutic interventions in treating depression. It concludes with thoughts on the future potential of neurotherapeutic interventions in the treatment of depression.