Abstract

It becomes increasingly clear that (non-)invasive neurostimulation is an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this chapter we review the available evidence on techniques and targets, clinical results including a meta-analysis, mechanisms of action, and animal research. We focus on deep brain stimulation (DBS), but also cover non-invasive neurostimulation including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Data shows that most DBS studies target the ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS), with an overall 76% response rate in treatment-refractory OCD. Also TMS holds clinical promise. Increased insight in the normalizing effects of neurostimulation on cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortical (CSTC) loops – through neuroimaging and animal research – provides novel opportunities to further optimize treatment strategies. Advancing clinical implementation of neurostimulation techniques is essential to ameliorate the lives of the many treatment-refractory OCD patients.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCurrent Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages399-436
Number of pages38
Volume49
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Publication series

NameCurrent Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
Volume49

Keywords

  • Deep brain stimulation
  • Neuromodulation
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation
  • Treatment outcome
  • Working mechanisms

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