Treatment Outcomes of Gamma-Knife Radio Surgery in Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common disease that has negative effects on functionality, and 10% of the patients do not respond to first-line treatments. Gamma-knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has been used in patients with treatment-resistant OCD, but the data on long-term outcomes are still unsatisfactory.

In this study, 12 patients who underwent GKRS between 2005 and 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Anterior capsulotomy was performed using two 4-mm isocenters at the midputaminal point of the anterior limb of the internal capsule on each side with a maximum radiation dose of 140-180 Gy. Patients were followed up with the Yale-Brown Obsession and Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) on the first, third, and sixth months.

After the procedure, a 35% reduction was observed in the overall Y-BOCS scores, and full response rate was 50%. There was a 49.5% decrease in the MADRS scores and a 57.8% decrease in the BPRS.

GKRS is an effective and non-invasive procedure with favorable side effects in treatment-resistant OCD with selected patients.