Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Overview

At the current time DBS is not offered as a treatment for depression or OCD in Dundee. What follows is a brief summary of the two published reports of DBS for depression. DBS has been used to treat OCD for a longer time than for depression.

This page should be considered a stem since DBS is not an available treatment in Dundee. More information will be added in due course.

Lesion targets for Depression

Only two targets have been reported in the literature:

1. Subgenual cingulate cortex (Mayberg et al, 2005)
2. Inferior thalamic peduncle (Jiminez et al, 2005)

Outcomes

In the Mayberg study (n=6), 4 patients (66%) were responders and 2 (33%) were remitters. Jiminez reported on one patient only, with modest improvements in mood after implantation.

The patient reported in the Jiminez case report also had comorbid borderline personality disorder and bulimia nervosa. One should exercise caution in drawing conclusions from one case that had multiple comorbidities.

References

Jimenez, F., Velasco, F., Salin-Pascual, R., et al (2005) A patient with a resistant major depression disorder treated with deep brain stimulation in the inferior thalamic peduncle. Neurosurgery, 57, 585-592.
Mayberg, H. S., Lozano, A. M., Voon, V., et al (2005) Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Neuron, 45, 651-660.