The National Center for Mental Health Promotion called for the need to adhere to scientifically proven practices, and to restrict the use of brain surgery to treat depression. The center said in a statement issued yesterday to the Ethical and Professional Practices Committee, “The committee received many questions about the success and safety of neurosurgery operations for the brain as a treatment for depression.
The committee confirmed that this type of surgery was tried a few decades ago, but the scientific evidence of its usefulness is still limited so far, so the global guidelines (treatment protocols) for the treatment of major depressive disorder do not include this type of brain surgery as one of the proposed treatment options. , even if treatment options with medication, psychological sessions, and brain stimulation have been exhausted.
The committee pointed out that there is better scientific evidence for the treatment of depressive disorder that is resistant to traditional treatments, according to the evidence and scientific references. The committee recommended restricting the use of brain surgery to treat depressive disorder due to the limited scientific evidence to support it at the present time.
She said, “If this is necessary, its use should be restricted to advanced health care facilities, under the supervision of a multidisciplinary medical team, and under strict restrictions, with obtaining official approvals from the relevant authorities.
Medical teams specialized in neurosurgery and psychiatrists, at King Salman Medical City in Madinah, were able to alleviate the suffering of a patient from chronic depression, accompanied by more than 25 years of surgical intervention to alleviate his severe symptoms and accompanying anxiety.
He formed a medical team consisting of psychiatrists and neurosurgeons; To discuss the case and approve a surgical intervention to alleviate the severe symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with it, where the team performed an operation (anterior gyrus resection on both sides) under complete anesthesia, which was successful without any complications, and the patient’s mood and psychological condition improved, and sleep hours returned to normal Keep away from constant sadness and excessive thinking about death, and worry about the future.
Why did the committee restrict the use of surgery?
- Scientific evidence of its usefulness is still limited
- The protocols do not include this type of treatment
- There is better scientific evidence for treating depressive disorder
- If necessary, it is carried out under the supervision of a specialized medical team
- Severe restrictions in case of necessity, with approvals taken