Evidence on the safety and efficacy of deep brain stimulation for chronic, severe, treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults is inadequate in quality and quantity. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research. Find out what only in research means on the NICE interventional procedures guidance page.
Patient selection should be done by a multidisciplinary team experienced in managing OCD. It should include experts in psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, clinical psychology, neurology, neurosurgery and deep brain stimulation.
The procedure should only be done in centres with expertise in deep brain stimulation and experience in managing OCD.
Further research should primarily be randomised controlled trials. It should clearly define the area of the brain that should be targeted in this procedure. It should also describe details of patient selection, comorbidities, and use of adjunctive therapies. Outcomes should include reduction in OCD symptoms, improvement in quality of life and any neuropsychiatric and cognitive effects.