Personality changes with subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation in patients with treatment-resistant depression

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an emerging treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
• Concerns exist regarding personality changes associated with DBS, particularly for movement disorders.
• This study prospectively investigated personality and antidepressant response to subcallosal cingulate DBS (SCC-DBS) in TRD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate personality dimension changes in patients with TRD undergoing SCC-DBS.
• To assess the relationship between personality changes and antidepressant response.
• To determine if baseline personality traits predict DBS treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-two TRD patients received SCC-DBS.
• Personality was assessed using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory at baseline and every 3 months for 15 months.
• Depression severity was monitored monthly via the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

Main Results:

• Significant decreases in neuroticism (p=0.002) and increases in extraversion (p=0.001) were observed over time.
• Depression improvement correlated with reduced neuroticism and increased extraversion.
• Baseline openness and agreeableness predicted treatment response at 6 and 12 months, respectively.

Conclusions:

• SCC-DBS was associated with positive personality changes, specifically reduced neuroticism and increased extraversion, linked to clinical improvement.
• Pretreatment personality traits like openness and agreeableness may predict DBS response.
• NEO Five-Factor Inventory assessments could assist in clinical decision-making and prognosis for TRD patients undergoing SCC-DBS.