Mood changes with deep brain stimulation of STN and GPi: results of a pilot study

The results of this study suggest that there are mood changes associated with deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and the globus pallidus interna (GPi). Further, optimal placement of electrodes in both STN and GPi seems to result in overall improvement in mood and is associated with a lower incidence of adverse mood effects than stimulation outside the optimal site. Preliminary data from this study, however, suggest that slight movement dorsal or ventral to the site of optimal motor performance may be associated with more adverse changes in mood with STN stimulation than with GPi stimulation.