Deep Brain Stimulation: Relationship from Parkinson's Disease to Depression

Approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997, the surgical procedure, Deep Brain Stimulation, also known as DBS, has taken great strides in the treatment of a variety of neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease, depression and may soon be used in the treatment of pediatric and other mental health disorders. Deep Brain Stimulation was initially approved for the treatment of tremors and bradykinesia, associated, in large part, to Parkinson's disease, at which time the Deep Brain Stimulation was expanded to include studies in a variety of other health conditions, including resistant major depression.

Considered a minimally invasive surgical procedure, Deep Brain Stimulation, involves the implantation of a hair thin wire into the brain at the site point of neurological activity. Depending on the condition treated, the hair thin surgical wire could be implanted at various and multiple locations. During Deep Brain Stimulation, this same wire is then routed through the skull, down the scalp and attached to a brain pacemaker below the collar bone. Battery operated, the brain pacemaker can be monitored through the use of a telemetric programmer who will monitor battery life and quality of deep brain stimulation in an effort to resolve the neurological symptoms, such as tremor. Batteries are generally replaced every three to five years.

For 15 percent of Parkinson's patients, the Deep Brain Stimulation unit provides a significant quality of life by alleviating the associated tremors symptomatic of Parkinson's disease. Generally implanted on the opposite side of the body more greatly affected by Parkinson's disease symptoms, some Parkinson's patients opt to have the Deep Brain Stimulation unit wires implanted bilaterally. Use of the Deep Brain Stimulation unit, in Parkinson's patients, is controlled by the patient throughout the day. As tremors fluctuate, the Parkinson's patient has the ability to adjust the unit stimulation to the brain as needed to control neurological symptoms, including tremors. The results of the Deep Brain Stimulation result in the patient's Parkinson disease symptoms alleviated to such an extent so as to enable the patient to sign his or her name and pour liquids without spillage. The brain pacemaker unit, at bedtime, is generally turned off as Parkinson's tremors are not as significant during periods of sleep.

Beyond the use in Parkinson's disease, the Deep Brain Stimulation unit has been tested in patients with severe depression. In recent studies completed, the patients studied were generally non-responsive to medications, therapy and electro-convulsive treatments. With use of Deep Brain Stimulation, patients suffering from major depressive symptoms recognized an immediate relief of symptoms, a feeling of relief, a heightened awareness of the environment and, as the Deep Brain Stimulation progressed, so did the remission of symptoms. Although not approved for FDA use, the Deep Brain Stimulation procedure is progressively being used, with success, in patients suffering from major non-responsive depression.

Studies continue in the use of Deep Brain Stimulation and include the future possibility of use in children with Tourette's Syndrome, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, OCD and even it the treatment of obesity. With the increased approval of the Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, by the FDA, medical science technology may provide an alternative to medication usage and therapy in the treatment of many neurologically based diseases and disorders. In doing so, Deep Brain Stimulation will improve the quality of life, for both Parkinson's patients as well as depressed patients.