Deep brain stimulation, it is already being used for Parkinson’s disease and the consequent tremors, it is being used for dystonia and obsessive compulsive disorder. So there is precedent for using this technique, which also means that the side effects have been considered few and small enough to be used as therapy. Also it is already approved by the FDA. However they use an implanted device, called the neurostimulator, it is implanted in the brain, like a pacemaker for your heart, and although I would love to give a try to see if ALL my bipolar disorder symptoms would go away totally, I am quite terrified of having something implanted in my brain. There is also a 1-3 % chance of infection, stroke, cranial bleeding, or other complications associated with anesthesia! They are doing this for people with Parkinson’s disorder, whose symptoms are not controlled with medication, and they have been successful at controlling their symptoms, such as tremor, rigidity, stiffness, slowed movement, and walking problems. So it does work.

There is a trial going on where the investigator is looking for:

~ 10 people with bipolar disorder who are treatment resistant with medication,

~ 10 people with bipolar disorder who are not treatment resistant, and

~ 10 healthy, normal controls.

I was almost thinking about enlisting my self in the second group, until I saw the part about the surgery, and the device that is implanted in your brain. Well, that cured me of any desire whatsoever to take part in this study. I think I’m just going to sit this one out 😏, and wait and see what the results of the study are before I even entertain the slightest notion of DBS.

Oh my, but what if it works! Wouldn’t that just be a miracle! We could all get it and be normal forever, haha! That would be a dream come true for me!

One thing I would like is if they could find a way to do deep brain stimulation with electrodes placed on the outside, like an electroencephalogram. That really would be the most wonderful option imaginable.

Here is a link if you’d like to get some more information about DBS: http://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/treatment/surgery-treatment-options/Deep-Brain-Stimulation