Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Penn Interventional Psychiatry has been involved in clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of this invasive treatment modality and has cared for patients with DBS for over ten years.

DBS uses an implanted generator (pacemaker-like) to deliver stimulation directly to brain structures implicated in mood regulation, obsessionality, impulse control, and behavior inhibition. DBS is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2008 FDA) for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and is being actively studied for the treatment of severe refractory depression (persistent despite multiple adequate treatments).

DBS requires surgery (Neurosurgery) and subsequent programming sessions (Psychiatry and Neurosurgery) to monitor the adequacy of treatment and system integrity.

Please explore the Research section for ongoing clinical trials.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

Penn Interventional Psychiatry has been involved in clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of this invasive treatment modality and has cared for VNS patients (Major depression) for almost twenty years now.

VNS uses an implanted generator (pacemaker-like) to indirectly deliver stimulation, via the Vagus Nerve, to brain structures implicated in mood regulation. VNS is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2005 FDA) for severe treatment-refractory depression (persistent despite multiple adequate treatments).

VNS requires surgery (Neurosurgery) and subsequent programming sessions (Psychiatry) to monitor the adequacy of treatment and system integrity.

Please explore the Research section for ongoing clinical trials.

ABOUT DBS and VNS AT PENN

Brain Circuit Therapeutics Clinic at the Penn Interventional Psychiatry Network

Patients are initially evaluated by a psychiatrist with expertise in mood disorders and interventional psychiatry. The initial assessment includes a diagnostic and treatment evaluation focusing on determining the appropriateness of invasive treatments as the next step in your treatment, as well as its risks, benefits, and other available treatments for your condition.  Patients are carefully screened for the presence of conditions or underlying risk factors that might make the use of DBS or VNS clinically unsafe. If DBS or VNS is deemed to be safe and appropriate for your case, you will be scheduled for a Neurosurgery evaluation and subsequently, brain image and bloodwork.

Penn’s Brain Circuit Therapeutics Clinic (BCT) has a multidisciplinary team that explores aspects of each case including indications, safety, individualized treatment plans, and ethical considerations. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Major Depression, Tourette’s Syndrome, Psychiatric conditions co-morbid with movement disorders are among the conditions our clinic treats. All scheduling is contingent upon insurance approval / coverage.