Title: Neurosurgery For Psychiatry Problems- Recent Advances

Abstract:

Introduction:

For many centuries neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders was largely non-existent especially in the middle ages. But many developments in recent years renewed the interest.  Broca, Wernicke and many others developed the idea that neurological function does have an anatomical base. Similarly, studies on patients with head injury and movement disorders also helped develop the anatomical basis of neurological function.

Presently the use of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is gaining ground. DBS involves stereotactic implantation of electrodes that then continuously emit short high-frequency electrical impulses in order to modulate functional neuronal circuits. The tip of each electrode contains at least four poles. Postoperatively, this permits a wide range of modes of stimulation from outside.

 Method:

After a general introduction on the relevance of neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders an attempt has been made to discuss specific use of neurosurgical procedures in various psychiatric disorders. A specific emphasis has been made on DBS as a prototype of neurosurgical techniques in the above conditions. References have been collected from various sources including author's personal experiences/own cases, review of scientific literature and published (international) guidelines.

Results:

The results have been presented and discussed under the headings for specific psychiatric disorders. The authors experience in a few cases are discussed in detail.

 Conclusion:

Surgery for psychiatric disorders, presently, has the advantages of being precisely targeted, relatively minimally invasive, essentially reversible and non-destructive, and adjustable with respect to stimulation parameters. These procedures will benefit selected patients with refractory psychiatric disorders.

Biography:

­Dr R. Ramnarayan is currently Consultant Functional Neurosurgeon at many hospitals in  Chennai, Bangalore, New Delhi, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait, UAE . He has been an invited speaker in many international neurological meetings including U.S., U.K., China, Singapore, Dubai, Tokyo, Turkey etc. He also operates in many countries like Qatar, Oman, UAE, Maldives etc. Dr Ramnarayan has also numerous publications in international journals some of which are very widely quoted. He also was awarded the Gold plaque by the National Neurosciences Centre, Muscat, Oman in  7^th December, 2006.