title: Suicidal thoughts in patients with Parkinson's disease treated by deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nuclei: two case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nuclei (STN) can result in depression despite the obvious motor improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with serious life-threatening depressive episodes are described. In the first case, the trigger for depression was a slight adjustment of the left stimulating electrode's contact. In the second case, reducing both the dopaminergic therapy and the voltage of DBS resulted in the manifestation of depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBS-induced depression possibly has pathogenetic differences from ordinary Parkinson's disease depression. The STN region seems to be a sensitive zone that influences emotions.
authors.affiliation: 1Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yacov
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Balash
authors.affiliation: 1Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merims
authors.affiliation: 1Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giladi