Deep brain stimulation for refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

The use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is reviewed, including a brief discussion of historical groundwork in the surgical treatment of psychiatric disorders, and the rationale for the current practice. The theoretical neuroanatomic circuitry underlying the pathophysiology of OCD is presented, along with supporting neuroimaging and clinical evidence. The promising early results of DBS for OCD are summarized, including a discussion of current targets and programming issues. Finally, the ethical implications of the procedure are briefly discussed.