HTA Details
Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Publication date
-
2013-August-01
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Mental Health and Addictions
- Recommendation
-
Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations:
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee is unable to recommend the use of deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression at this time because:
- The device is not licensed in Canada for treatment-resistant depression.
- The evidence suggests a beneficial effect of deep brain stimulation in treatment-resistant depression; however, this conclusion is based on very low quality of evidence.
- If Health Canada licenses the product for treatment-resistant depression in Canada, the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee will consider reviewing the technology again, if requested to do so.
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee is unable to recommend the use of deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression at this time because:
- Ministry Response
-
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.
-
To read the full OHTAC Recommendation Report for this topic, contact our Health Innovation team using the contact form to request a digital copy.
Depression is a serious problem. More than 1 in 10 Canadians report having symptoms of depression over their lifetime. Depression is usually treated with drugs or counselling, but sometimes treatment doesn’t work as well as it should.
Deep brain stimulation delivers small electrical pulses to certain parts of the brain. A surgeon put tiny electrodes in the patient’s brain, and then connects them to a small transmitter that gets implanted just below the patient’s collarbone.
Supporting Documents
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
