title: Neuropsychological safety of nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation for major depression: effects of 12-month stimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Deep brain stimulation (DBS) to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc-DBS) has antidepressant effects in patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, limited information exists regarding the impact of NAcc-DBS on cognitive functioning. The aim of this study was to examine whether NAcc-DBS in patients with TRD has any cognitive effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered to 10 patients with TRD before onset of bilateral NAcc-DBS and after 1 year of DBS stimulation. Neuropsychological testing covered the domains of attention, learning and memory, executive functions, visual perception, and language. Performance was analyzed at baseline and after 1 year of continuous DBS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No evidence was found for cognitive decline following NAcc-DBS comparing test results after 1 year of NAcc-DBS with baseline. However, significantly improved cognitive performance on tests of attention, learning and memory, executive functions and visual perception was found. In addition, there was a general trend towards cognitive enhancement from below average to average performance. These procognitive effects were independent of the antidepressant effects of NAcc-DBS or changes in NAcc-DBS parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results not only support cognitive safety of NAcc-DBS but also stress its beneficial role in augmenting cognitive performance in patients with TRD.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Christiane
authors: C
authors: Grubert
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Hurlemann
authors: Bettina H
authors: BH
authors: Bewernick
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Kayser
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Hadrysiewicz
authors: Nikolai
authors: N
authors: Axmacher
authors: Volker
authors: V
authors: Sturm
authors: Thomas E
authors: TE
authors: Schlaepfer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D061218:Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome