Deep Brain Stimulation for Refractory Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Addiction

Depression, Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD), and addiction are the leading disabling psychiatric conditions with huge health care and psychosocial burden besides increased morbidity and mortality. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for depression, OCD, and addiction is increasingly explored and is quite challenging. We present a brief review of the pertinent literature of DBS for depression, OCD, and addiction and present the status and challenges.

The aim of this study was to review the current status and challenges with the DBS for Depression, Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD), and addiction.

The pertinent brief literature was reviewed in reference to the DBS for Depression, Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD), and addiction.

To date, OCD is the only psychiatric condition approved for DBS therapy (under humanitarian device exemption). Although the initial encouraging results of DBS in depression were encouraging but the two larger multicenter clinical trials failed to meet the primary objective. Further evaluation and studies are ongoing. Similarly, the initial results of DBS for addiction are encouraging; however, the experience is limited.

DBS for depression, OCD, and addiction seem challenging but promising. Further refinement of the target and evaluation in a larger and controlled setting is needed, specifically for depression and addiction.