Deep Brain Stimulation and Panic Disorders

Do you have any information regarding deep brain stimulators causing uncontrolled panic disorders?  The only solution seems to be turning the stimulator off.  

Joan

Response:

A 2006 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine compared the effects of Deep Brain Stimulation surgery compared to medication for 156 subjects. Half of the subjects received deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery (for a sample of 78) and half  took medications only. Fifty percent (50%) of the DBS subjects experienced adverse events of one type or another. Results showed that DPS was superior to using medication alone.

Four psychotic “events” were experienced by the DPS subjects who were followed six months after surgery. Three cognitive disturbances were reported and four events of depression occurred. The New England Journal study did not specify how many subjects were involved with any of these reported “events” and did not track subjects longer than six months after surgery.

In summary, according to the recent research on DBS, some subjects did experience events that likely fell into the category of panic disorders, though such an outcome was not specifically reported.

What do you do about this unwanted outcome? To begin with your DBS surgeon will certainly have some beneficial recommendations. I suspect adjustments to the simulator can make a huge difference. As you know, I am not a medical doctor so this is not my area of expertise.

One avenue of investigation you might consider pursing is to investigate methods you can use to “ground” yourself. This means taking your energy from your head (where it has been hanging out as a result of your surgery) and distributing this energy down to your legs and feet. I will be posting a video soon that will demonstrate a way to ground that is simple and quick. For now, simply paying more attention to your feet may help enormously.

Randy Eady (located in Delray Beach, Florida) is also known as the foot whisperer. Randy was my radio show guest on May 11, 2010. Visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery and scroll back to hear his show. Randy  recommends that persons  with symptoms of Parkinsons (including anxiety) walk without shoes as much as possible. He explains this allow your feet to connect with the ground. When we are not energetically connected to the earth, there is a short circuit which  causes serious anxiety attacks to result.

Parkinsons RecoveryRobert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Parkinsons Recovery is possible.

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