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DBS for Depression: Research Clinical Trial

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Albert John Fenoy, MD
Albert John Fenoy, MD
Albert John Fenoy, MD

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)

Our FDA-approved clinical trial investigates the utility of performing deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in people with treatment resistant depression. The principal investigator, Dr. Albert Fenoy, has been performing this surgery as part of a clinical trial for over a decade. We have observed a rapid and significant improvement in depressive symptoms, with a near 80% response rate sustained for over 5 years.

 

Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure and can be a key aspect in depression. Our study aims target the reward network, which is largely confluent with the MFB, responsible for anhedonia. By using DBS to modulate certain nodes of the MFB, we have found improvements in clinical symptoms.

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Dr. Fenoy and his team were recently awarded a $3.1M R01 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to investigate such reward network modulation in people with treatment resistant depression. People who meet inclusion criteria will undergo DBS surgery targeting the MFB and then will be followed for a year as part of the FDA-approved clinical trial. After surgery, patients will undergo imaging at several time points (MRIs and PET scans) as stimulation parameters are adjusted to therapeutic benefit. The goal is to explain the evolution of network changes and demonstrate an objective biomarker of reward network engagement, which directly correlates with antidepressant effect.

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Participation in this study requires weekly visits for 52 weeks at Zucker Hillside Hospital. These visits will be approximately 1 hour long, and can be either all in person, or virtual every other week.

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Surgical costs are not covered by this study. We will work with your insurance carrier to try and have the costs of surgery covered, as we have been successful previously.

Albert John Fenoy, MD

To learn more about our clinical trial and to speak to our coordinator please call (718) 470-8446 or email DBSTrials@northwell.edu

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