Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease Trial

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the effect of deep brain stimulation in the the globus pallidus (Gpi) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) on motor, neuropsychological and psychiatric function, and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Medical therapy is the mainstay of treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). After several years of drug therapy, however, a large proportion of patients experience worsening of their parkinsonism and develop incapacitating motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. To deal with this, attention has been directed to surgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). Recently, stimulating the areas of the brain that control movement, the globus pallidus (Gpi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN), has been proposed as a therapy for treating many of the disabling symptoms associated with PD and drug-induced side effects. The major aim of this 5-year study is to carry out a prospective, double blinded, randomized, clinical trial of DBS for medically intractable PD. The study will evaluate the effect of DBS in the Gpi and STN on motor, neuropsychological and psychiatric function, and quality of life in patients with PD. The study also will address two key issues: 1) whether there are differences between unilateral Gpi-DBS and STN-DBS and 2) which patients are the best candidates for bilateral DBS.