Deep Brain Stimulation for OCD: Helpful but Risky
A French study indicates that deep brain stimulation can help people with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder who do not respond to other treatments, but that the procedure carries significant risks.
Deep brain stimulation involves implanting electrodes deep in the brain. In the French study, active deep brain stimulation was shown to reduce OCD symptoms. A number of participants developed serious side effects, including infection and cerebral hemorrhage.