Sugar metabolism under deep brain stimulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Deep brain stimulation is a therapeutic option for patients with the most severe obsessive-compulsive disorders. This applies above all to those patients for whom there has been no improvement in their compulsions with any of the available psychiatric and psychotherapeutic therapy methods. With deep brain stimulation, two electrodes are placed in a specific area of ​​the brain in a neurosurgical procedure. An electrical pulse generator, similar to a pacemaker, which is implanted under the collarbone, sends a current pulse to the brain via the electrodes. This changes the function of the brain and leads to a reduction in compulsions.

The method is established at many centers around the world, approved by the authorities and the method of choice for severe courses of Parkinson's disease, dystonia or obsessive-compulsive disorders. The Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Medical University of Vienna is in the process of establishing a clinical and scientific center specializing in deep brain stimulation for OCD in cooperation with the Department for Neurosurgery at the Vienna General Hospital. In the new study "Sugar metabolism under deep brain stimulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder" at our center, attempts are being made to confirm the clinical effectiveness of deep brain stimulation and to research the mechanism of action of this therapy method with positron emission tomography.

If you have patients with the most severe manifestations of OCD in your practice / department, we ask you to pass the enclosed information flyer on to your patients. The inclusion criteria for deep brain stimulation are based on clinical and scientific criteria, which are based on those of other centers in Germany, Belgium or the USA. For deep brain stimulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder, these are the following minimum criteria:

• Presence of a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder is the leading diagnosis
• Current score of 25 or higher on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale
• Failure to respond to at least 2 therapy attempts with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs such as sertraline, Cipralex, etc.)
• At least one attempt at therapy with a tricyclic in maximum dosage for at least 10 weeks
• At least one attempt at augmentation with an antipsychotic, lithium, or one Benzodiazepine
• At least a series of psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy or
• comparable techniques over at least 20 units
• Age over 18
  
  

In the clinical neuroscientific study, the sugar metabolism of the brain is measured using positron emission tomography and a long-term clinical treatment is carried out. Of course, assigned patients are treated to the best of our knowledge and belief, even without the criteria for deep brain stimulation. Please do not hesitate to contact your patients and you for further information using the contact details provided.

Contact:
Tel: 0043 1 40400 73882
Tel: 0043 664 800 166 2002
Email: neuroimaging@meduniwien.ac.at
Ap. Prof. PD DDr. Christoph Kraus