Most cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) respond well to medication or psychotherapy, but as many as 20% of cases remain resistant to these forms of treatment. Doctors have been looking for effective ways to treat these resistant cases of OCD for decades, and one promising approach involves a surgical technique called deep brain stimulation (DBS). A recent survey of DBS studies suggests that the technique could provide long-term relief for the majority of treatment-resistant OCD sufferers.
Searching for the Heart of OCD in the Brain
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) uses electrodes to deliver electrical pulses directly to the brain. The electrodes are connected to a device that’s implanted under the skin of the chest, and the device controls the pattern of the pulses in much the same way that a pacemaker delivers electrical pulses to the heart. The technique has been used successfully to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and it’s more recently been used to treat depression that doesn’t respond to traditional treatments.
The challenge in using DBS to treat OCD is in finding the correct part of the brain to target. Early studies targeted a part of the brain called the anterior limb of the internal capsule. Imaging studies had indicated that this part of the brain was associated with OCD symptoms, and another surgical procedure called an anterior capsulotomy had produced positive results as a treatment for the disorder.
Targeting DBS at the anterior limb of the internal capsule reduced symptoms in many OCD patients, but researchers continued to look for other areas of the brain that might also be effective targets. Other studies have targeted the subthalamic nucleus, the nucleus accumbens, the ventral capsule/ventral striatum, and the inferior thalamic peduncle.
Although the results of targeting these five different areas of the brain varied, the improvement in OCD symptoms have been significant overall. About 60% of participants in the studies fully responded to the treatment, meaning they saw more than a 35% decrease in their symptoms as measured by a commonly used assessment scale.
DBS Fails to Get a Foothold in OCD Treatment
Despite the promising results of DBS studies, and despite the fact that 75% of American Psychiatric Association members say they’d recommend DBS for treatment-resistant OCD, the technique is still almost never used to treat the disorder. The procedure is specialized and expensive, and insurers have been unwilling to cover it as an accepted treatment for OCD. Virtually the only way that an OCD patient can receive DBS treatment is by enrolling in a study. Given that most studies are very small, fewer than 300 OCD patients have been treated with DBS.
The best hope for advancing DBS as a treatment for resistant OCD is an investment in more and larger studies. Further research can more precisely evaluate how effective the treatment is, as well as determine which target areas in the brain produce the best treatment results.
Sources
Deep Brain Stimulation Successfully Treats Refractory OCD Although Targets Vary
Deep Brain Stimulation for Highly Treatment-Resistant OCD
Deep brain stimulation sites for OCD target distinct symptoms
You Are Not Alone
For you or a loved one to be diagnosed with a brain or mental health-related illness or disorder is overwhelming, and leads to a quest for support and answers to important questions. UBA has built a safe, caring and compassionate community for you to share your journey, connect with others in similar situations, learn about breakthroughs, and to simply find comfort.
Make a Donation, Make a Difference
We have a close relationship with researchers working on an array of brain and mental health-related issues and disorders. We keep abreast with cutting-edge research projects and fund those with the greatest insight and promise. Please donate generously today; help make a difference for your loved ones, now and in their future.
The United Brain Association – No Mind Left Behind
