Can deep brain stimulation be used for the treatment of drug addiction?

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) modulates brain activity by implanted electrodes deep in brain tissue. It is currently used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, depression, tremor, or dystonia. It is also suspected that the technique can be used to treat drug addictions because, in addictions, damages to the prefrontal cortex's functioning might diminish impulse control. In the past 15 years, animal DBS studies successfully investigated its potential for addiction to various abused drugs. However, the same treatment in people has high costs, and the difficulties in recruiting patients have hampered clinical experimentation. 

In early studies, DBS decreased the severity of cocaine dependence and alcohol cravings. In opioid addiction treatment, five of eight patients in China have stayed off heroin for at least two years, and some patients have remained off drugs for the duration. In addition, DBS  improved patients’ depressive and anxious symptoms and increased the subjectively perceived quality of life. More importantly, significant improvement of memory, IQ, and depression, and anxiety experience were found. Read the whole article. 

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