Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) ranks second in prevalence of degenerative disease of the nervous system. Objective: Is to study the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's disease patients on motor and psychiatric profile including cognition and also its impact on quality of life. Methods: Fourteen patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease were carefully considered for bilateral STN DBS. Clinical and neuropsychological evaluation was performed preoperatively and 6-9 months postoperatively. Parkinson Disease questionnaire (PDQ-39) is used to assess parameters of quality of life. Results: A significant reduction in motor disability, equal to 50 % was found 6 months after surgery. No evidence of memory, reasoning or attention changes after surgery. Executive functions showed significant improvement regarding WCST performance. Significant improvement was found in mood but the state and trait anxiety did not show any significant change. Only significant paranoid traits appeared on one patient in the post-operative period. Significant correlation was found between mood state improvement and motor improvement. Regarding quality of life, there was significant improvement in the items of mobility, activity of daily living, emotional wellbeing, communication and bodily discomfort. Conclusion: Beside the marvelous motor effect, careful patient selection for STN DBS in Parkinson disease does not permit any deleterious effect on psychiatric and cognitive state of the patients. On the contrary, mood, quality of life and some cognitive functions may be better after surgery. [Egypt J Neurol Psychiat Neurosurg. 2011; 48(3): 257-264]
Key Words: Parkinsonism, DBS, STN, cognitive function, quality of life
Correspondence to Ehab Ramadan, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Tanta University, Egypt
Tel.: +20127552626 Email: ehab_ramadan@yahoo.com