(November 12, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Direct brain stimulation may help ease symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) among those whose condition resists standard treatment, at the risk of serious side effects, according to research in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here is some information about OCD:

•    Classified as an anxiety disorder, OCD is a condition characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts, and/or repetitive behaviors.

•    The repetitive behaviors are generally a way to try to get rid of the unwanted thoughts, but they only provide temporary relief.

•    While there is no cure, OCD can be treated. Psychotherapy and medication can be useful ways of combating OCD.

Researchers assigned eight patients with OCD to receive 3 months of direct electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus followed by a sham treatment in which no electrical current is released. Another eight OCD patients received the sham treatment first, followed by the active treatment.

After receiving stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus of the brain, patients’ OCD symptoms and ability to function improved. However, overall neuropsychological functioning and levels of depression and anxiety remained unchanged, and 15 patients experienced serious side effects, including one case of a bleed in the brain and two infections.

Today’s research provides hope that direct stimulation of the brain may help those suffering from a form of OCD that resists standard treatment, but the high rate of serious side effects remains a serious challenge.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.