Background
Metabolic overactivity of corticosubcortical loops including the caudate nucleus (CN)
has been reported in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) using functional imaging
techniques. However, direct proof of a modification of neuronal activity within the
CN of OCD patients is still lacking. We tested the hypothesis that obsessions or compulsions
might be associated with particular features of neuronal activity in the CN of OCD
patients.
Methods
Single unit recordings were performed peroperatively in the CN of three patients with
severe forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who were candidates for deep brain
stimulation of the CN. Severity of obsessions was assessed preoperatively with the
Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and peroperatively with a subjective
obsession score based on a visual analog scale (VAS).
Results
Frequency of CN discharge and variability of interspike intervals were found to be
abnormally high in two patients with a high VAS score during surgery but not in one
with a low VAS score. Lateralization and depth of recording influenced neuronal activity
variably among patients.
Conclusions
Because the three patients had high Y-BOCS scores before surgery, these findings suggest
that caudate hyperactivity in OCD is concomitant with the occurrence of the obsession
process.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 18, 2007
Accepted:
June 29,
2007
Received in revised form:
May 31,
2007
Received:
April 4,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
