Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
Deep brain stimulation for psychiatric diseases: what are the risks?
Christian Saleh1, Denys Fontaine
1Service de Neurochirurgie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (CHU), Nice, France, chs12us75010@yahoo.com.
Abstract:
Despite the application of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as an efficient treatment modality for psychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS), and treatment refractory major depression (TRD), few patients are operated or included in clinical trials, often for fear of the potential risks of an approach deemed too dangerous. To assess the surgical risks, we conducted an analysis of publications on DBS for psychiatric disorders. A PubMed search was conducted on reports on DBS for OCD, GTS, and TRD. Forty-nine articles were included. Only reports on complications related to DBS were selected and analyzed. Two hundred seventy-two patients with a mean follow-up of 22 months were included in our analysis. Surgical mortality was nil. The overall mortality was 1.1 %: two suicides were unrelated to DBS and one death was reported to be unlikely due to DBS. The majority of complications were transient and related to stimulation. Long-term morbidity occurred in 16.5 % of cases. Three patients had permanent neurological complications due to intracerebral hemorrhage (2.2 %). Complications reported in DBS for psychiatric diseases appear to be similar to those reported for DBS in movement disorders. But class I evidence is lacking. Our analysis was based mainly on small non-randomized studies. A significant number of patients (approximately 150 patients) who were treated with DBS for psychiatric diseases had to be excluded from our analysis as no data on complications was available. The exact prevalence of complications of DBS in psychiatric diseases could not be established. DBS for psychiatric diseases is promising, but remains an experimental technique in need of further evaluation. A close surveillance of patients undergoing DBS for psychiatric diseases is mandatory.
Insights
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for psychiatric disorders like OCD and depression shows low surgical mortality. While most complications are temporary, long-term risks exist, necessitating careful patient monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Psychiatry
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for psychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS), and treatment-refractory depression (TRD).
- Patient and clinician apprehension regarding surgical risks limits the adoption of DBS for psychiatric conditions.
- A comprehensive understanding of the safety profile of DBS in psychiatric applications is crucial for wider clinical acceptance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the surgical risks and complications associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) for psychiatric disorders.
- To analyze existing literature to quantify the prevalence and nature of adverse events in patients undergoing DBS for OCD, GTS, and TRD.
Main Methods:
- A PubMed search identified 49 articles reporting on DBS for psychiatric disorders.
- Analysis focused exclusively on studies detailing complications, including 272 patients with a mean follow-up of 22 months.
- Data on surgical mortality, overall mortality, transient and long-term morbidity, and permanent neurological complications were extracted and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Surgical mortality was zero. Overall mortality was 1.1%, with deaths attributed to suicide or unlikely related to DBS.
- The majority of complications were transient and stimulation-related.
- Long-term morbidity occurred in 16.5% of cases, with permanent neurological complications (intracerebral hemorrhage) in 2.2%.
Conclusions:
- Complications associated with DBS for psychiatric disorders appear comparable to those seen in movement disorder applications, though robust evidence (Class I) is lacking.
- The exact prevalence of complications could not be definitively established due to missing data in many reports.
- DBS for psychiatric diseases holds promise but remains experimental, requiring rigorous patient surveillance and further evaluation.
