Neuroimaging contributions to novel surgical treatments for intractable obsessive–compulsive disorder

Abstract

Research in predictor studies has largely been limited to disorders such as obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), as it has a fairly well-established pathophysiology in the literature, and patients with OCD are more likely to receive neurotherapeutic treatment. As neurosurgical procedures are often invasive and involve standard risks associated with neurosurgery, along with a high cost, there is a major impetus to distinguish potential responders to treatment using neuroimaging techniques. This could not only assist in patient selection and improve response rates, but could also potentially be implemented to tailor a treatment avenue to an individual patient. Here we review studies that elucidate the pathophysiology of OCD, illustrate modern neurosurgical treatments and investigate predictive correlates of treatment outcome.

Keywords::

• deep brain stimulation
• functional neurosurgery
• neuroimaging
• neurotherapeutics
• obsessive–compulsive disorder
• pathophysiology
• predictor studies

Financial & competing interests disclosure

D Dougherty has received funding from Medtronic (research and consulting/honoraria), Northstar (research), and Cyberonics (research). T Deckersbach has participated in research funded by Medtronic, Cyberonics, and Northstar. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.