Associations between bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) and anxiety in Parkinson's disease patients: a controlled study

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2012 Summer;24(3):316-25. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.11070170.

Abstract

The authors explored the associations between subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) and anxiety in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Recent research suggests that anxiety may be one of the earliest manifestations of PD; however, the lack of a dopamine-medication control group is a major limitation of these studies. Authors paired a group of 31 bilateral STN-DBS PD patients (STN-DBS group) with 31 dopamine-medicated PD patients (Medication-control group) and used various psychological assessment scales for group evaluations. These were completed 1 month preoperatively, and 3 weeks, 5 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, 7 months, and 13 months postoperatively. As compared with the Medication group, the STN-DBS group improved in motor functioning and general status after 1 week Stimulator Power-On; State-Anxiety improved significantly at 1 week and 1 month after Stimulator Power-On, but was not significant at the subsequent time-points. Anxiety scores remained stable before 3rd-month Stimulator Power-On, but got worse after that time. In the STN-DBS group, S-AI was positively related to motor symptoms and life quality preoperatively and 4 months postoperatively, but, in the Medication group, this correlation existed throughout the study. PD-related anxiety decreased in STN-DBS patients because of the improvement in motor function for a short time; however, as the voltages and pulse-widths grew higher with time, the PD-related anxiety became worse.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / etiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Deep Brain Stimulation / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / therapy*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Regression Analysis
  • Subthalamic Nucleus / physiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome