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

Providing a Surgical Intervention to Alleviate Neurological Symptoms

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.