Wired for Relief: Assessing the Risks and Rewards of DBS in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be a lifelong and debilitating condition that can be resistant to pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments. Over the last couple of decades, the emergence of deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been proven as an effective form of treatment for patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and even for patients with epilepsy. With the previous success of DBS, this neurosurgical intervention has now also become a promising form of treatment for patients suffering from treatment-resistant OCD. But with its newness, its efficacy, safety, and long-term success remain under evaluation. The goal of this review is to evaluate, assess, and discuss the sustained long-term effectiveness, ideal target locations, risks, and safety, including suicide rates, and compare DBS to more non-invasive forms of treatment such as TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). The results showed that, after treatment, patients experienced a significant reduction in their mean Y-BOCS score.