Deep brain stimulation in the surgical management of major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder
Sobstyl, M.Å‚; Dzierzecki, S.; Zabek, M.Å‚a.
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska 43(6): 559-569
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-3843 PMID: 20054759 Document Number: 635625
Despite significant advances in psychopharmacology, many patients with psychiatric disorders remain severely impaired by their conditions in their private, professional and social lives. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a proven method of surgical management of Parkinson's disease, dystonia and essential tremor. Electrodes implanted in deep brain structures have a direct neuromodulatory effect on neuronal structures responsible not only for movement disorders but also for psychiatric disorders. The stereotactic targets for psychiatric disorders include limbic parts of the nuclei of the limbic neuronal loop. At present, DBS is applied to treat medically refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and Tourette syndrome in small groups of patients. This overview includes the rationale for the use of DBS in psychiatric disorders, a summary of preliminary research done to date, and a discussion of achieved results.