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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2008;79:952-954 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.130583
  • Short report

Attempted and completed suicides after subthalamic nucleus stimulation for Parkinson’s disease

  1. T Soulas1,2,
  2. J-M Gurruchaga1,
  3. S Palfi1,
  4. P Cesaro2,
  5. J-P Nguyen1,
  6. G Fénelon2
  1. 1
    AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor, Department of Neurosurgery, Créteil, France
  2. 2
    AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor, Department of Neurology, Créteil, France
  1. Dr G Fénelon, Department of Neurology, CHU Henri Mondor, 94000-Créteil, France; gilles.fenelon{at}aphp.hmn.fr
  • Received 20 July 2007
  • Revised 25 March 2008
  • Accepted 26 March 2008
  • Published Online First 10 April 2008

Abstract

A higher than expected frequency of suicide has been reported among patients undergoing subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) for advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). We conducted a retrospective survey of 200 patients with PD who underwent STN DBS. Two patients (1%) committed suicide and four (2%) attempted suicide, despite clear motor improvements. Suicidal patients did not differ from non-suicidal patients with respect to age, disease duration or preoperative depressive and cognitive status. Suicidal behaviour was associated with postoperative depression and/or altered impulse regulation. Suicidal behaviour is a potential hazard of STN DBS, calling for careful preoperative assessment and close postoperative psychiatric and behavioural follow-up.

Footnotes

  • See Editorial Commentary, p 851

  • Competing interests: None.

Responses to this article

  • STN-DBS in genetic Parkinson's disease patients
    • Simon Israeli-Korn,
    • Sharon Hassin-Baer, MD; Oren Cohen, MD; Rivka Inzelberg, MD
    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry published online November 3, 2008

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