Intractable Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Overview

While psychiatric disease is fairly prevalent, there are relatively rare cases in which the disease is so debilitating and so resistant to conventional therapies that neurosurgical intervention may be considered. The Brown University Neurosurgery program at Rhode Island Hospital is among the very few, highly-specialized centers in the world with significant expertise in treating psychiatric disease surgically. Likewise, the Brown University Psychiatry program has world-leaders in the understanding of and neuromodulation for psychiatric disorders. Together, our teams pioneered deep brain stimulation (DBS) for intractable OCD, as well as gamma knife capsulotomy, and MRI-guided laser capsulotomy for intractable OCD.

Working with our colleagues at Butler Hospital, we evaluate patients as a multi-disciplinary team to ensure the correct diagnosis has been made, that appropriate non-surgical options have been attempted, and that the impact on quality of life sufficiently significant to warrant neurosurgical intervention. An in-depth review of medical and psychiatric history is undertaken prior to on-site evaluation, where further testing and potential surgical options are discussed as appropriate.