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Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by blowski on Sunday October 31, 2021 @07:09AM (#29056143)
I’m absolutely fascinated by this debate, albeit as an amateur merely listening in.

It does feel like there’s a difference between giving someone medication that changes their mood, versus an implanted device that does the same thing. But I can’t quite put my finger on the difference. Maybe it’s just different and in a hundred years, it will be just as normal.

Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by meragrin_ on Sunday October 31, 2021 @08:31AM (#29056506)
> Maybe it’s just different and in a hundred years, it will be just as normal.

My guess is it will be looked upon as some barbaric/stupid treatment. People are just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. The majority of it will be tossed aside when the problem is better understood.

Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by eurasiantiger on Monday November 01, 2021 @03:41AM (#29063969)
Lobotomy used to be a valid treatment; it’s very likely this kind of brain implants will be seen in similar light.
Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by kayodelycaon on Sunday October 31, 2021 @08:05AM (#29056391)
I’m someone who needs to take such medications. Medication can be stopped voluntarily. Removing a implant, not so much.

Many people would argue people with my condition should be implanted, so we can’t go off our medication.

Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by endgame on Sunday October 31, 2021 @08:53AM (#29056617)
The pills won't get an OTA firmware update to make you think about sponsored products from our partners.
Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by salawat on Sunday October 31, 2021 @10:25AM (#29057186)
Pills can be stopped. good luck removing an implant. There is also the fact that the implant itself, competes with natural neuronal development by taking up space, and increasing intercranial pressure which is a growth stop signal. Depending on the nature of said implant, it's mode of operation can be changed at the whimsy of an external party. See the story around "Chop jobs" in System Shock/System Shock 2, where cybernetic implants are posited to be capable of automating a person's physical behaviors even against their own will. The topic is toyed with quite effectively there. It's all a matter of splicing in a bit of biocompatible chip at the right nerve endings.

Very "I have no mouth, yet I must scream."

And pills, for the record aren@t much better. Your mind and mental state are still largely dependent on access to the drug, and if you've ever tried to do anything remotely ambitious while contending with the extra restrictions placed on you w.r.t. Schedule 2 substances; good bloody luck. Though if you've got practices you@re willing to share , I'm all ears.

Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by Zababa on Sunday October 31, 2021 @08:31AM (#29056504)
Taking pills is like eating, it's a think everyone does, and comes from "outside" of you. An implant is something you add to yourself. However that may be biased from what I know. Many people have hearing aids that they can't really take off, and for them it's normal. I don't know many people like that so implants seem unusual to me. On the other hand, pretty much everyone I know too pills at some point.
Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by blowski on Sunday October 31, 2021 @02:16PM (#29059021)
There was definitely a time when swallowing little round coloured artificially-produced objects was seen as weird and dangerous. It became normal when people saw enough positive side-effects. The same might happen here.
Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by Zababa on Sunday October 31, 2021 @02:44PM (#29059256)
Very true, hence my mention of hearing aids.
Re:Brain implant may lift most severe depression by dgan on Sunday October 31, 2021 @08:03AM (#29056380)
Let me help you with the finger placement: you can stop taking pills, but I doubt you could take off implant!