Neuromodulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Neuromodulation techniques in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involve electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). This article reviews the available literature on the efficacy and applicability of these techniques in OCD. ECT is used for the treatment of comorbid depression or psychosis. One case report on tDCS showed no effects in OCD. Low-frequency TMS provides significant but mostly transient improvement of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. DBS shows a response rate of 60% in open and sham-controlled studies. In OCD, it can be concluded that DBS, although more invasive, is the most efficacious technique.

Keywords: Deep brain stimulation (DBS); Efficacy; Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); Neuromodulation; Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); Review; Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).