Historical use of neurosurgical interventions for depression has mostly involved ablative procedures. Their invasive and permanent nature made controlled studies difficult, and their use declined after the mid-20th century with the discovery and widespread use of medications. More than half a century later, with the low effectiveness of psychiatric medications, the advent of more reliable stereotactic methods than previously, modern brain stimulation, and a clearer understanding of the functional neuroanatomy of psychiatric disorders, came a resurrection in device-based, neurosurgical interventions, including deep brain stimulation (DBS). Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai