February 9, 2021
Schaumburg, Illinois, February 9, 2021—The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) has developed an update to its evidence-based guideline for Deep Brain Stimulation for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. An executive summary of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines Deep Brain Stimulation for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Update of the 2014 Guidelines was published today in Neurosurgery. Other relevant information can also be found on the CNS website.
Michael D. Staudt, MD, MSc states, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to update the evidence-based guidelines regarding the use of DBS in OCD, and are thankful for the support from the CNS. We hope that high quality data continue to be generated in order to advance our understanding of this challenging disorder and to improve outcomes with DBS.” The original guidelines published in 2014 were based on a literature review between 1966 and October 2012. In accordance with the Institute of Medicine’s recommended best practice of reviewing guidelines every 5 years, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons is committed to ensuring timeliness and accuracy for its guidelines.
The authors performed an updated literature search for the guideline through December 2019. Based on the new data published in the literature, the following recommendations can be made:
It is recommended that clinicians utilize bilateral subthalamic nucleus DBS over best medical management for the treatment of patients with medically refractory OCD (Level I).
Clinicians may use bilateral nucleus accumbens or bed nucleus of stria terminalis DBS for the treatment of patients with medically refractory OCD (Level II).
There is insufficient evidence to make a recommendation for the identification of the most effective target.
This update was developed by the CNS and reviewed for evidence-based integrity and endorsed by CNS and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.