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Deep Brain Stimulation Research Paper

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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure used as treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and other illnesses. During this procedure, the brain is stimulated in specific areas using electrodes. DBS started being used in the 80s as treatment severe tremors and Parkinson's disease. It was not until recently that this treatment began being used for OCD patients. Deep brain stimulation should not be used as treatment for OCD, because it is a highly experimental procedure and there is much difficulty in targeting electrode placement for optimal efficiency. However, there have been promising results for OCD patients who have gone through with DBS. In a report published by Greenburg (2008), 61.5% of 26 patients were considered responders to the treatment. Deep brain stimulation is seen as a controversial method of treatment and definitely requires more research.
Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment used to minimize tremor and to stop involuntary motion, commonly used for patients with motion disorders as well as OCD. Electrodes are placed in certain areas of …show more content…
It is difficult to compare results of DBS treatments, because different techniques in different brain regions are used. Surgical complication of this procedure may include bleeding in the brain, stroke, or breathing problems. Professor Keith Matthews from NMD Service stated in the Scottish Executive in 2006 that DBS is not a simple treatment to perform. It is also not free from hazard as it is often misrepresented by clinicians. There are various issues with this procedure such a difficulty in targeting placement for the electrode, the development of pre and post procedure protocols, developing responses for treatment failures. The various unresolved issues suggests that it would be unwise to choose DBS over ablative

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