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Changes in affect, impulsivity and emotion recognition through deep brain stimulation in idiopathic Parkinson's disease

Description

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established therapy for people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly those who have severe motor fluctuations, severe tremor or dyskinesia when treated with medication alone [1]. The electrodes are implanted in the brain, in most patients in the subthalamic nucleus [2]. However, stimulation there can cause side effects such as depressive, apathetic, hypomanic states or even increased suicidality [3-4]. It is also possible that the ability to recognise certain emotions, such as fear, sadness and anger, is reduced in patients who have undergone surgery compared with healthy controls and patients with idiopathic PD without THS [5].

The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which postoperative changes in affective symptoms, altered emotion recognition and individual electrode locations are related. In addition to questionnaires to assess affective symptoms and quality of life, and tests to assess cognitive and visuoconstructive abilities, specially programmed experiments on emotion discrimination, identification and impulsivity will be conducted. The project aims to better understand the affective, cognitive and social effects of deep brain stimulation in order to raise awareness among patients, relatives and practitioners and to provide concrete treatment options for non-motor symptoms.

[1] Malek N. Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease. Neurol India. 2019 Jul-Aug;67(4):968-978. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.266268.
[2] Herzog J, Deuschl G. Tiefe Hirnstimulation bei der Parkinson-Krankheit [Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease]. Nervenarzt. 2010 Jun;81(6):669-79. German. doi: 10.1007/s00115-010-2938-3.
[3] Zarzycki MZ, Domitrz I. Stimulation-induced side effects after deep brain stimulation - a systematic review. Acta Neuropsychiatr. 2020 Apr;32(2):57-64. doi: 10.1017/neu.2019.35. Epub 2019 Oct 14.
[4] Castrioto A, Lhommée E, Moro E, Krack P. Mood and behavioural effects of subthalamic stimulation in Parkinson's disease. Lancet Neurol. 2014 Mar;13(3):287-305. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70294-1. Epub 2014 Feb 17.
[5] Biseul I et al. Fear recognition is impaired by subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease. Neuropsychologia. 2005;43(7):1054-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.10.006. Epub 2004 Dec 30.

Contact

Dr. Josefine Waldthaler
Mrs. Dilara Bingöl and Clara Klimaschewski
Telefone: 06421/58 - 65299
Telefax: 06421/58 - 67055
waldthalj@staff.*

* please add "uni-marburg.de" for a full email-address.