Progress on the application of deep brain stimulation in refractory mental disease
WU Jing-chao
LIANG Si-quan
Abstract：Deep brain stimulation(DBS),a reversible and adjustable neuromodulation technique,has expanded from its initial application in movement disorders to the treatment of mental disease.This review systematically summarizes the current applications and research progress of DBS in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder(TR-OCD),treatment-resistant depression(TRD),anorexia nervosa(AN),substance use disorder(SUD),and treatment-resistant schizophrenia(TRS).Evidence indicates that DBS modulates dysfunctional neural circuits[e.g.,cortito-striato-thalamo-cortical(CSTC)loop,reward system]and significantly alleviates symptoms,particularly showing high response and remission rates in TR-OCD.However,challenges remain,including interindividual variability in target selection,lack of predictive biomarkers,long-term safety concerns,and ethical issues.Future directions involve closed-loop stimulation,tractography-based targeting,and personalized medicine approaches to facilitate the transition of DBS from experimental therapy to clinical practice.
Keywords：Compulsive personality disorderDepressive disordertreatment-resistantAnorexia nervosaSubstance-related disordersSchizophreniaDeep brain stimulationReview
Publication Date：2026-01-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-04-07(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 69-76 )