Response to sham and active gamma ventral capsulotomy in otherwise intractable obsessive-compulsive disorder

Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2010;88(3):177-82. doi: 10.1159/000313870. Epub 2010 May 1.

Abstract

This case regards a 34-year-old woman with severe and refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder, who was enrolled in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of radiosurgery. She was at first submitted to a sham radiosurgical procedure, and 1 year later to an active intervention. Opposite clinical responses were observed in the follow-up of these different phases. During the sham surgery follow-up, no improvements were observed, but a remarkable amelioration was seen a few months after the active procedure. Detailed descriptions of psychopathological changes and neuroimaging findings as well as a discussion regarding the surgical technique are provided.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal Capsule / surgery*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / surgery*
  • Placebos*
  • Radiosurgery / instrumentation*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Placebos