Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C3GbDDnrLys/

Implantation of a programmable neurostimulation system in her brain has brought remarkable relief to a 34 year old woman suffering from both epileptic seizures and obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD.  This first-of-its-kind- surgery, completed at the Oregon Health & Science University using techniques developed by University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University neuroscientists, involved the implantation of electrodes into the patient’s brain, measurement of her brain’s electrical discharges associated with both her seizures and obsessive behaviors, , destruction of her seizure trigger zone, and programming of a portable microprocessor to deliver deep brain stimulation to block her obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

The patient’s long history of OCD impaired her daily life with fears of social interactions, environmental contamination, and possible physical harm from intruders.  Psychological and drug therapy yielded little relief.

Even with deep brain stimulation, the patient’s improvement occurred slowly.  As the months wore on, the time she spent performing compulsive actions diminished from 8 hours to 30 minutes.  She now is able to eat in public, arrive at work on time, and live independently.

https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(23)00747-X#

#ocd #obsessions #compulsions #epilepsy #deepbrainstimulation #upenn #stanford