Personality changes after deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neurology

Background:

• Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is a standard treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), primarily targeting motor symptom improvement.
• The effects of STN-DBS on personality traits in PD patients remain largely unexplored.
• Understanding these personality changes is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of STN-DBS on personality traits in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.
• To assess changes in specific personality dimensions, including persistence and impulsivity, following STN-DBS.
• To provide insights into the non-motor effects of this neurosurgical intervention.

Main Methods:

• Forty patients with advanced PD underwent personality assessments using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, Sensation Seeking (UPPS) scale.
• Assessments were conducted pre-surgery and three months post-STN-DBS.
• Collateral information from relatives was also gathered using the UPPS.

Main Results:

• Patients showed decreased scores on the TCI Persistence and Self-Transcendence scales post-STN-DBS compared to baseline.
• Relatives reported a significant increase in the UPPS Lack of Premeditation scale scores at follow-up.
• These findings suggest a shift towards reduced persistence and increased impulsivity.

Conclusions:

• STN-DBS in Parkinson's disease patients is associated with notable personality alterations.
• The observed changes indicate a trend towards increased impulsivity and potentially decreased perseverance.
• Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the complex relationship between STN-DBS and personality modification.