Deep brain stimulation for Tourette syndrome: a prospective pilot study in Japan

OBJECTIVE: Refractory Tourette syndrome (TS) disturbs the social life of patients. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has recently been applied to relieve severe tics. We report a prospective open-labeled case series of DBS for TS as a pilot study.

CASES AND METHODS: Three patients (19-21 years old, one male) with refractory TS were treated with DBS. They were targeted at the centromedian-parafascicular complex-ventral oral thalamic nuclei of the bilateral thalami.

RESULTS: The scores for the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale decreased from 42.7 ± 2.7 (before DBS) to 26.0 ± 1.7 (one year after DBS) (means ± standard error of means). Intelligence levels of the patients showed no change after surgery. There was no morbidity or mortality. All patients presented an increase in satisfaction with activities of daily living.

CONCLUSIONS: These results support the safety and efficacy of thalamic DBS for TS.