Attempted and Completed Suicides After Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease

The authors conducted a retrospective survey of 200 patients with Parkinson’s Disease who underwent subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. Two patients died by suicide & four attempted suicide, despite clear motor improvements. Suicidal patients did no differ from non-suicidal patients with respect to age, disease duration or preoperative depressive & cognitive status. Suicidal behaviour was associated with postoperative depression &/or altered impulse regulation. Suicidal behaviour is a potential hazard of this therapy, calling for careful preoperative assessment & close postoperative psychiatric & behvioural follow-up. (26 refs.)