TY - JOUR T1 - Attempted and completed suicides after subthalamic nucleus stimulation for Parkinson’s disease JF - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry JO - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry SP - 952 LP - 954 DO - 10.1136/jnnp.2007.130583 VL - 79 IS - 8 AU - T Soulas AU - J-M Gurruchaga AU - S Palfi AU - P Cesaro AU - J-P Nguyen AU - G Fénelon Y1 - 2008/08/01 UR - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/79/8/952.abstract N2 - 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. ER -