Major Depressive Disorder

Easterseals and the Brain Plasticity Institute: Working Together

The Issue:

  • Brain Health LogoMajor depression affects approximately 15 million American adults or about 8 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.
  • Bipolar disorder -- manic depression -- affects approximately 6 million American adults or about 3 percent of the population in a given year.
  • Women experience depression about twice as often as men. Over their lifetimes about 12 percent of women will have clinical depression.
  • Approximately 80 percent of people experiencing depression are not currently receiving any treatment. 80 to 90 percent of people who live with a serious mental illness are unemployed.
  • More than 90 percent of persons who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental illness, commonly a depressive disorder.
  • Approximately 4 percent of adolescents develop serious depression each year. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 24.
  • Depression is also known to weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to other medical illnesses.
  • By the year 2020, depression will be the second most common health problem in the world.(National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov).

Taking on Major Depressive Disorder

The Brain Plasticity Institute proposes developing and testing a suite of computerized cognitive exercises to address major depressive disorder (MDD), one of the most prevalent and debilitating conditions in the world. Earlier studies using other similar exercises from the same team have been shown to:

  • Lessen the onset and progression of depressive symptoms among adults over 65 and
  • Lessen depressive symptoms among persons with schizophrenia.

These new exercises will incorporate some elements of earlier, proven models with newer stimuli derived from recent studies to create a new suite designed to:

  • Increase the release of brain chemicals (neuromodulators) that facilitate attention and alertness, which impacts the “brightness” in mood and affect of users
  • Improve auditory speed of processing, accuracy of representation and neuronal power of users, which are generally down-regulated in MDD and contribute to daily life challenges
  • Increase visual speed and novelty-seeking, to improve user’s performance in daily life and
    outlook; and
  • Re-balance social control, interference resolution and social-emotional control, to assist users in social interaction and coping.

The Brain Plasticity Institute

The BPI goal is to revolutionize the treatment of major depressive disorder. Our novel treatment strategy is designed to do something that standard medical approaches cannot and do not do: renormalize the impaired brain of a person with major depressive disorder with a strategy that should result in more organic, more complete and more enduring recovery and reduced dependence on medication. Using a modern technological approach that employs computer-based activity and telemedicine, individuals will “self-administer” the program from the comfort and safety of their own homes. If desired, the clinicians treating the individual can receive updates on the individual’s progress and completion of the program, and provide support all along the path to recovery through a social networking link within the program. This innovative approach puts treatment for major depression within reach for many who previously could not access it.

The five core strategies BPI will apply here have all been demonstrated to be effective both for recovering the targeted aspect of behavior AND for overcoming the neurological distortions that account for them. Given this very extensive preliminary work, BPI can construct models of what should be highly effective tools for treating depression relatively rapidly, and at low cost. A network of treatment centers has been organized and, with Easterseals extensive clinical network, will help BPI quickly define program effectiveness.

Once constructed and validated, we can deliver this new form of treatment anywhere in the world using the Internet cloud, at very low cost. We have the potential of transforming millions of lives and families very much for the better, because most individuals who live with major depressive disorder NEVER receive the help they need to live happier and more productive lives.

Help us help scientists and researchers at the Brain Plasticity Institute meet this great human challenge.

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