Deep brain stimulation

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

How you prepare

By Mayo Clinic staff

Because deep brain stimulation is experimental, it's available only through participation in clinical trials. Because of the risks involved, its use is limited to people who have severe, debilitating depression that has not improved with standard treatments.

First, weigh the pros and cons
Deep brain stimulation is a serious and potentially risky procedure because it requires brain surgery. Even if you might be eligible for a clinical trial to test deep brain stimulation, you and your doctors must carefully weigh the pros and cons of the procedure. If your depression prevents you from going about your daily activities or is life-threatening, you may be more willing to face the risks involved with deep brain stimulation. But you still must be screened by a team of medical professionals to make sure deep brain stimulation is a good and safe option for you.

Next, preparing for surgery
Before surgery, you need a medical evaluation with your doctor or neurosurgeon to make sure it's safe for you and a good option in your case. You may need a full physical and psychiatric evaluation. This may include neuropsychological evaluations to determine your level of intellectual and cognitive ability before the procedure so that potential changes can be monitored over time. You also need brain-imaging studies, such as an MRI, before the surgery.

MY00184

July 31, 2008

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger