Negative Outcome After IMeurosurgery for Refractory Obsessive-compulsive Spectrum Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to determine the long-term outcome of patients with severe and refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum (OCDS) following neurosurgery. METHOD: Five patients who underwent neurosurgery as a last-resort treatment for refractory OCDS were evaluated. On all patients, posttest data was obtained from the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, The Overvalued Ideas Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Pretest scores were available on three patients as well. RESULTS: All patients failed to maintain initial improvements after surgery and relapsed. In addition, they became depressed with suicidal ideation or attempt. CONCLUSION: Complications of neurosurgery are discussed, notably relapse and depression.