Dr. Adams
10-25-2007, 04:44 PM
"Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens was associated with remission of alcohol dependence in a man with severe anxiety disorder and secondary depression.
Researchers used bilateral DBS of the nucleus accumbens in the patient, in an attempt to treat his severe anxiety disorder and secondary depressive disorder. DBS had no beneficial effect on the patient's primary disorder, but there was a remarkable change in alcohol dependence.
After only a month of DBS, the patient did not consume alcohol on most days, no longer drank excessively, and reduced his consumption to 1 to 2 drinks on days when he did consume alcohol.
A year after starting DBS, the patient only occasionally consumes alcohol. He claims to have lost the desire to drink and says the pressing need to consume alcohol has almost disappeared. A relatively general consensus prevails that the mesocorticolimbic system, especially the nucleus accumbens, is to be viewed as the primary area impaired by psychotropic substances and consequently as the neural substrate for substance dependencies."
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2007;78:1152-1153
Researchers used bilateral DBS of the nucleus accumbens in the patient, in an attempt to treat his severe anxiety disorder and secondary depressive disorder. DBS had no beneficial effect on the patient's primary disorder, but there was a remarkable change in alcohol dependence.
After only a month of DBS, the patient did not consume alcohol on most days, no longer drank excessively, and reduced his consumption to 1 to 2 drinks on days when he did consume alcohol.
A year after starting DBS, the patient only occasionally consumes alcohol. He claims to have lost the desire to drink and says the pressing need to consume alcohol has almost disappeared. A relatively general consensus prevails that the mesocorticolimbic system, especially the nucleus accumbens, is to be viewed as the primary area impaired by psychotropic substances and consequently as the neural substrate for substance dependencies."
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2007;78:1152-1153