Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients With Deep Brain Stimulators

Abstract

The scope of functional neurosurgery is expanding, and deep brain stimulation (DBS) indications with comorbid depressive disorders that are challenging to manage, such as movement disorders, are common. There is limited research or clinical experience on the safety and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with DBS electrodes. We present a case illustrating the challenges when faced with ECT for treatment-resistant depression in the context of preexisting DBS electrodes, and establish a database to collect cases of ECT in DBS patients.