Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 June 2014
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nuclei (STN) can result in depression despite the obvious motor improvement.
Two patients with serious life-threatening depressive episodes are described. In the first case, the trigger for depression was a slight adjustment of the left stimulating electrode’s contact. In the second case, reducing both the dopaminergic therapy and the voltage of DBS resulted in the manifestation of depressive symptoms.
DBS-induced depression possibly has pathogenetic differences from ordinary Parkinson’s disease depression. The STN region seems to be a sensitive zone that influences emotions.