Stanford's noninvasive brain treatment for depression proves helpful

"Summer passed Valerie Zeko by when she was 27, as she vegged out on the couch watching TV instead of seeing friends or exploring the overcast beach near her house. She later learned that period was her first episode of depression. I felt like the fog was in my head as well as outside, said Zeko, now 57, describing the mood disorder that would squelch her happiness, motivation and self-esteem for 28 years until she finally found effective treatment."

"Everything in my life appeared to be perfect and wonderful, but my head was full of this really bad, negative self-talk constantly, Zeko told CNN. I felt like my whole life was falling apart around me. I couldn't get things done in my house. When Zeko first sought help in 2011, her doctor prescribed the antidepressant bupropion, which Zeko took on and off for several years. It made her feel more energized, but sometimes that boost morphed into anxiety."

"Then Zeko and a psychiatrist tried to tackle her mood disorder with a series of seven other antidepressants. They just either didn't work at all, made it worse, made me feel suicidal, she said. Other horrible side effects included urinary issues, headaches, nightmares, emotional numbness and fatigue, Zeko said. Zeko's predicament fit what experts call treatment-resistant depression, which isn't a formal diagnosis separate from major depressive disorder."

Valerie Zeko experienced a first depressive episode at 27 and endured severe depression for 28 years that suppressed happiness, motivation and self-esteem. She described constant negative self-talk, cognitive fog, loss of energy and inability to manage household tasks. Initial treatment with bupropion produced intermittent energy and anxiety; seven other antidepressants failed, worsened symptoms or produced suicidal feelings and side effects including urinary problems, headaches, nightmares, emotional numbness and fatigue. The condition fits treatment-resistant depression, a label for depression unimproved by validated conventional treatments rather than a separate diagnosis; nearly one-third of the 332 million people with depression worldwide fall into that category.

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