New hope has been found for patients who suffer from treatment-resistant OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). The Archives of General Psychiatry reported that stimulating areas deep within the brain using electrodes my significantly help such patients.
“OCD is a psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive ritualistic behaviors (compulsions),” the authors of the article described. OCD is a serious condition that can incapacitate a person from functioning at work, in social settings, or even in their own homes if left untreated.
Typical treatments include behavioral therapy and medication. Yet such treatments are only effective for about half of patients. It is estimated that 10 percent of OCD patients still remain severely incapacitated by the disorder, despite receiving the best treatments currently available.
The study in which the article detailed, included 16 OCD patients whose symptoms had not responded to previous treatments. Electrodes were implanted deep into participants’ brains. The study was a three-phase process, conducted over many months. On average, patients’ OCD symptoms were found to decrease by 46 percent. The authors concluded that this treatment may be highly effective and safe way to treat patients with otherwise unresponsive forms of OCD.
The authors write, “Further research is necessary to optimize this therapy with respect to patient selection and management, target location and investigation of new potential indications.”
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