Deep brain stimulation as a therapy for alcohol addiction.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been firmly established as a therapy for movement disorders. Recently, evidence from case reports and small case series also suggests DBS to be effective in psychiatric disorders including addiction. Here we review the rationale of DBS in addiction and the selection of possible targets. We then consider evidence from animal models as well as human case studies. We conclude that DBS in particular of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) represents a promising treatment option in addiction which deserves further investigation.
Clinic for Neurology, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. thomas.muente@neuro.uni-luebeck.de
Thomas F
TF
Münte
Hans-Jochen
HJ
Heinze
Veerle
V
Visser-Vandewalle
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology