Suicide After Successful Deep Brain Stimulation for Movement Disorders

This letter to the editor is a response to the Burkhard et al. report in which they concluded a high rate of death by suicide in patients who received deep brain stimulation implants. Their conclusion appeared inadequately supported by the evidence provided. Albanese et al. reviewed their own series collected at the Besta Institute. Their data showed there was not a non-specific increase in the risk of death by suicide following deep brain stimulation implants but other factors influenced it. A response from Burkhard et al. to Albanese et al. is included. (LC) (10 refs)