The Current Could deep brain stimulation be a cure for depression?
Nov 28, 2025
Anna Mehler Paperny, a Toronto journalist and author of 'Hello, I Want to Die, Please Fix Me,' shares her groundbreaking experience with deep brain stimulation as part of a clinical trial for treatment-resistant depression. She candidly discusses her 14-year battle with depression and the experimental surgery she underwent. Anna delves into the mechanics of the surgery, the risks involved, and her hopes for the future of depression treatment. With early signs of improvement and ongoing research, she emphasizes the importance of advancing mental health therapies.
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Long Years Of Debilitating Depression
- Anna Mehler Paperny describes 14 years of depression that left her paralysed by self-doubt and frequent suicidal thoughts.
- She compares episodes to sinking in a swamp or being hit by a subway train to convey how disabling they were.
Tried Nearly All Standard Treatments
- Anna lists nearly every standard treatment she tried, including dozens of drugs, psychotherapy, ECT and rTMS.
- She stresses psychotherapy helped keep her going but ultimately wasn't enough for her condition.
Targeting Misfiring Brain Circuits
- Researchers target a small brain region believed to be both hyperactive and atrophied in depression and zap it to stop misfiring.
- The goal is to push the brain into more adaptive functioning via electrical modulation and downstream effects.
