Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Movement Disorders

One of the more interesting treatments currently being explored for tardive dyskinesia (TD) is known as "deep brain stimulation" (DBS). This method of treating neurological and movement disorders was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1997. Since then, it has proven to have great benefits, but equally serious risks.

This type of treatment uses a small electrical pulse generator to deliver actual electrical impulses to targeted sites inside the brain. The pulse generator is planted just below the collar bone or the abdomen. Once the system is in place, a clinician calibrates the device in order to address neurological symptoms.

Primarily, DBS has been used to manage symptoms of Parkinson's disease in patients who cannot otherwise be medicated because of side effects or because they are ineffective. Some studies indicate that DBS may be effective in treating clinical depression and has also been used as an experimental treatment for certain patients with severe symptoms of Tourette syndrome. However, it is not clear as to whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

Deep Brain Stimulation and Tardive Dyskinesia

This is one area of tardive dyskinesia research that has been relatively active, with several studies having been conducted over the past few years. One of the first studies on the effects of DBS on tardive dyskinesia was carried out in Germany in 2002 and published the following year. The research team found "immediate and marked suppression of...involuntary movements" when a mild current was applied to one side of the brain.

Subsequent research has indicated that DBS may indeed be the cure for patients suffering from dyskinetic symptoms as the result of neuroleptic medications. A French study in which both sides of the globus pallidus (the innermost part of the brain that controls motor functions) were stimulated resulted in an average improvement of 61 percent among test subjects.

Research in the U.S., while not as extensive, has shown similarly promising results. A 61-year-old female patient studied at the Baylor College of Medicine in 2006 showed an immediate 38 percent improvement as measured by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) used to evaluate tardive dyskinesia patients.

Side Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation

Although there has been considerable success with the application of DBS in the treatment of dyskinesia, the procedure is not without considerable risk. Patients treated for this disorder have experienced hallucinations and cognitive thinking disorders. Others have become apathetic and even depressed. In some cases, patients become compulsive gamblers or find themselves with an insatiable appetite for sex. The good news is that these symptoms can be reversed by recalibrating the device.

The surgery itself poses a risk of bleeding inside the brain as well. The electrodes may also slip out of place, causing serious complications even though these can be readily diagnosed with most medical imaging equipment.

Patients who undergo this surgery initially experience disorientation and drowsiness. This is normal due to swelling of the brain tissue following the surgery. The device is not turned on immediately because it is necessary for the patient to recover from the surgical procedure before it can be activated and calibrated.

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