Attempted and completed suicides after subthalamic nucleus stimulation for Parkinson's disease.
A higher than expected frequency of suicide has been reported among patients undergoing subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). We conducted a retrospective survey of 200 patients with PD who underwent STN DBS. Two patients (1%) committed suicide and four (2%) attempted suicide, despite clear motor improvements. Suicidal patients did not differ from non-suicidal patients with respect to age, disease duration or preoperative depressive and cognitive status. Suicidal behaviour was associated with postoperative depression and/or altered impulse regulation. Suicidal behaviour is a potential hazard of STN DBS, calling for careful preoperative assessment and close postoperative psychiatric and behavioural follow-up.
Soulas
T
T
Department of Neurosurgery, AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Gurruchaga
J-M
JM
Palfi
S
S
Cesaro
P
P
Nguyen
J-P
JP
Fénelon
G
G
D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome