Groundbreaking Treatment for OCD: Deep Brain Stimulation
The Challenge of Treatment-Resistant OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating condition that affects many people worldwide. While cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants can help manage the obsessions and compulsions associated with OCD, about one-third of those living with the disorder do not see improvement with either therapeutic treatment or medication. These cases, known as treatment-resistant OCD, have traditionally had limited options outside of these standard remedies.
A New Hope: Deep Brain Stimulation
A new emerging treatment, known as “deep brain stimulation,” may provide some much-needed relief for those living with treatment-resistant OCD. This therapy delivers jolts of electricity to the brain in the hopes of fading those persistent, nagging thoughts into a distant memory.
A Successful Case Study
In a study published earlier this month in the journal Neuron, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania used a type of brain stimulation called “responsive deep brain stimulation” to treat a 34-year-old woman with treatment-resistant OCD. Using a brain implant surgically placed to treat her epilepsy, the researchers taught the device to recognize a unique pattern of abnormal brain activity — a potential neural biomarker of OCD — and stimulate it any time it appeared.
Remarkable Results
Within months, the woman’s severe obsessions and compulsions were significantly reduced. Two years after her first treatment, the researchers say her disorder no longer eats up hours of her day. This groundbreaking study offers hope for those living with treatment-resistant OCD and opens up new avenues for research into effective treatments for this challenging condition.
