Diepe hersenstimulatie bij psychiatrische stoornissen

- Deep brain stimulation is a technique in which electrodes are stereotactically implanted in specific regions of the brain to administer electric pulses. After implantation, the activity of the electrodes can be adjusted.

- The field of psychiatry shows great interest in deep brain stimulation because there is little risk of complications and because it is reversible and postoperatively adjustable to optimalize the treatment.

- Deep brain stimulation is being investigated as a potential treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and major depressive disorder.

- Deep brain stimulation for psychiatric conditions is still strictly experimental.

- It is expected that deep brain stimulation will be the treatment of choice for chronic therapy-refractory psychiatric disorders.

- The speed of responses following deep brain stimulation is urging psychiatrists to reconsider basic pathophysiological mechanisms of psychiatric disorders.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2008;152:2330-5