Brain Radio' trial hopes to crack code of depression treatment

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 25-70 years old. * Ability to provide written informed consent. * Lives within commuting distance to New York City and study location (Mount Sinai West Hospital) * Primary psychiatric diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), either single episode or recurrent type, without psychotic features, currently experiencing a Major Depressive Episode (MDE), as diagnosed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV-TR (SCID). Two independent psychiatrists will confirm the diagnosis. * Current depressive episode of at least two years duration OR a history of more than 3 lifetime depressive episodes. * Minimum score at study entry of 20 on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) * Average pre-operative HDRS-17 score of 20 or greater (averaged over four weekly pre-surgical evaluations during the four weeks prior to surgery) and an average pre-operative HDRS-17 score no more than 30% lower than the baseline screening HDRS-17 score. * A maximum Global Assessment of Functioning of 50 or less. * Confirmed to have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Treatment-resistance will be defined as: 1. Failure to respond to a minimum of four different antidepressant treatments (including at least three medications from at least three different drug classes), evidence-based psychotherapy, or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) administered at adequate doses and duration during the current episode. We will require documentation (i.e., statement from the treating psychiatrist) that a treatment trial has failed (either no response to maximum tolerable doses for a minimum of 4 weeks, or side effects at sub-maximal doses) as coded by a revised Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF). The study investigators will confirm each treatment via review of records from referring psychiatrists and/or pharmacy records. 2. Failure or intolerance of an adequate course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during any episode (confirmed by medical records) or not receiving ECT due to a reason considered valid by the study psychiatrist. Such reasons might include lack of availability of ECT providers in the patient's location, concern regarding the impact of cognitive side effects of ECT on current ability to work or function, or inability to obtain third-party payment for ECT. Additionally, it is recognized that the probability that a patient who has failed four medications in the current episode will achieve a lasting response with ECT is about 18% (60% probability of an acute response and 30% of maintaining response for at least 24 weeks); patients who have refused ECT because they feel the chance of benefit does not outweigh the risks associated with ECT will be considered eligible. * Able to undergo preoperative MRI * Have a designated caregiver available to assist in compliance with study procedures * Willing and able to comply with all study-related appointments and procedures Exclusion criteria: * Other Axis I comorbid conditions * Active suicidal ideation with intent, suicide attempt within the last six months, more than three suicide attempts within the last two years, or serious suicide risk as determined by the study psychiatrists * Other primary neurological disorders or unstable medical illness * Conditions requiring anticoagulant therapy which cannot be discontinued for the perioperative period, as required * Conditions requiring MRI scans or diathermy * Pregnancy or plan to come pregnant during the study * Contraindications for general anesthesia, neurosurgery, or an MRI scan * Currently implanted with a cardiac pacemaker / defibrillator or other implanted electrical device which may interfere with DBS stimulator or the function of which may be impacted by its implantation. * Patients who lack the capacity for proper device usage and maintenance, in the opinion of the research team