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Deep brain stimulation, personal identity and policy.

Debra J H Mathews¹

¹Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. dmathews@jhu.edu

International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)

|December 28, 2011

Summary

Implantable brain-interfacing devices (IBIDs) are advancing beyond neurological to psychiatric conditions. This raises critical questions about personal identity and informed consent for emerging therapies.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biotechnology
Medical Ethics

Background:

Implantable brain-interfacing devices (IBIDs) are increasingly used for neurological disorders.
Recent advancements extend IBIDs to psychiatric conditions like depression and addiction.
Emerging applications target functions linked to personal identity and agency.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current landscape of IBIDs.
To highlight the unique ethical considerations of IBIDs for psychiatric conditions.
To underscore the importance of understanding patient identity in treatment.

Main Methods:

Literature review of IBID development and applications.
Analysis of the expansion of IBIDs from neurological to psychiatric fields.

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Discussion of ethical implications concerning personal identity and informed consent.

Main Results:

IBIDs are expanding from movement disorders to mood, behavior, and thought disorders.
New applications target psychiatric conditions and traits tied to personal identity.
Existing devices like deep brain stimulation (DBS) are being repurposed.

Conclusions:

The application of IBIDs to psychiatric disorders presents novel ethical challenges.
Understanding patient and caregiver perceptions of identity is crucial for informed consent.
Public policy discussions are needed regarding the use of IBIDs for conditions affecting personhood.