Ethics, Deep Brain Stimulation and Major Depressive Disorder

• author: Johansson, Veronica
• organization: Neurophysiology (research group); Centre for Theology and Religious Studies; Neuronano Research Center (NRC) (research group)
• publishing date: 2010
• type: Contribution to conference
• publication status: unpublished
• subject: Neurosciences
• keywords: Depression, Neuroethics, Ethics, Deep Brain Stimulation
• pages: 41 - 41
• conference name: Brain Machine Interfaces: Implications for science, clinical practice and society
• conference location: Ystad Saltsjöbad, Sweden
• conference dates: 2010-08-26 - 2010-08-29
• language: English
• LU publication?: yes
• additional info: Within bioethics there has in recent years been an increasing interest in the ethical implications of deep brain stimulation (DBS), and lately the first articles on DBS and psychiatric disorders such as depression have appeared. DBS, commonly referred to as a brain pacemaker or a neurostimulator, is a surgical treatment where chronic invasive electrodes stimulate brain structures deep within the brain. Initially DBS was used as a last resort treatment for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor as well as relieving chronic pain. Today its use is extended. Beside attempts to treat migraine, epilepsy and balance disorders,studies have been conducted to evaluate DBS as a treatment of for instance Tourette’s syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder. Further, the technique is considered as a possible treatment for anorexia, obesity,cocaine addiction, memory disorders and aggression, which is likely to spur the ethical discussion even further. Intervening in the brain raises both hopes and worries, especially when the treatment targets moods, emotions and behaviour, all which are closely connected to a person’s personality. While the hopes lay in finding a remedy for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from treatment-refractory depression, among whom roughly 15% will commit suicide, it is essential to make sure that the therapy lives up to face value before it is used on a larger scale. At present there are still vast knowledge gaps calling for caution, both regarding the use of DBS in general, and particularly when the technique in employed on a psychiatric disorder. For instance, could the therapy result in unacceptable personality changes, as were the case with many of the patients who underwent lobotomies? This poster gives an overview of some of the key ethical concerns regarding DBS as a therapy for treatment-refractory major depressive disorder, where a multidimensional approach is employed to capture the wide range of ethical facets raised by this novel intervention. Not only must the medical concerns be acknowledged, intervening in the brain – especially if the brain is depicted as “the organ of the mind” - can raise social, political and religious concerns of ethical importance as well. In addition, both possible gains and risks of harm are identified.
• id: b8e31317-5cb2-47db-8459-51902aca17a2 (old id 1717421)
• alternative location: http://www.med.lu.se/nrc/bmi_symposium/program
• date added to LUP: 2016-04-04 13:51:07
• date last changed: 2022-09-27 08:33:32