Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Sex-Specific Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Stroke Mortality.

Journal of the American Heart Association·2026

Same author

Rural-Urban Disparities in Epilepsy Outcomes in the United States.

Neurology·2026

Same author

Pilot trial of delayed versus immediate financial incentives for smoking cessation.

Contemporary clinical trials communications·2026

Same author

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in Patients With Cirrhosis in a US National Cohort.

Clinical and translational gastroenterology·2026

Same author

CXCL11 levels regulate lung Treg responses to deter the onset of HIV-related COPD.

Respiratory research·2026

Same author

Epidemiology of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in the Veterans Health Administration.

Annals of the American Thoracic Society·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus

Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus

Published on: March 8, 2015

Deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder: past, present, and future.

Matthew K Mian¹, Michael Campos, Sameer A Sheth

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.

Neurosurgical Focus

|August 3, 2010

Summary

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) offers a novel therapy for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Research reviews DBS development, mechanisms, and clinical evidence for treating refractory OCD.

More Related Videos

Combined Invasive Subcortical and Non-invasive Surface Neurophysiological Recordings for the Assessment of Cognitive and Emotional Functions in Humans

Combined Invasive Subcortical and Non-invasive Surface Neurophysiological Recordings for the Assessment of Cognitive and Emotional Functions in Humans

Published on: May 19, 2016

Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Published on: November 25, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus

Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus

Published on: March 8, 2015

Combined Invasive Subcortical and Non-invasive Surface Neurophysiological Recordings for the Assessment of Cognitive and Emotional Functions in Humans

Combined Invasive Subcortical and Non-invasive Surface Neurophysiological Recordings for the Assessment of Cognitive and Emotional Functions in Humans

Published on: May 19, 2016

Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Published on: November 25, 2025

Area of Science:

Neurosurgery
Psychiatry
Neuroscience

Background:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition.
Severe, treatment-resistant OCD has historically been managed with ablative neurosurgery.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) emerged as a newer therapeutic option for refractory OCD.

Observation:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a limited humanitarian device exemption for DBS in 2009.
This review examines the evolution of DBS for OCD treatment.
Current understanding of OCD pathophysiology and DBS modulation of neural circuits is discussed.

Findings:

Clinical studies provide evidence supporting the efficacy of DBS for OCD.
The article synthesizes existing research on DBS in the context of OCD.
The review highlights the therapeutic potential of DBS for patients with severe, chronic OCD.

Implications:

Further research combining basic science and translational approaches is crucial.
Understanding neural mechanisms underlying OCD can enhance DBS effectiveness.
This evolving therapy holds promise for recalcitrant OCD cases.