An interview with a deep brain stimulation patient: “I’m worried about getting water in the holes in my head”

By Christian Jarrett Deep brain stimulation is a medical procedure that involves implanting electrodes permanently into the brain and using them to alter the functioning of specific neural networks. A battery inserted subcutaneously in the chest provides the device with power. One application of the technology is as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease, a neurodegenerative condition that causes tremors and difficulties moving. While the treatment can bring about an impressive alleviation of symptoms, research suggests that Parkinson’s patients often struggle to adjust psychologically. Now a case study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology has provided some of the first insights into what it’s like for a patient to contemplate undergoing surgery for deep brain stimulation, and then to adjust in the immediate aftermath. Psychologist Virginia Eatough at Birkbeck University of London and her colleague, nurse specialist Karen Shaw from UCL’s Institute of Neurology, interviewed Katherine (not her real name), a 72-year-old Parkinson’s patient, three times: three weeks prior to surgery for deep brain stimulation, then four and twelve weeks afterwards. After transcribing the interviews, the researchers identified three main themes, the first concerned how she made the decision to go ahead with the surgery after the idea was proposed to her by her consultant. Understandably, Katherine was scared of the procedure. But while she was enco...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Brain Health Qualitative Source Type: blogs