Abstract
We report on the long-term clinical outcome (up to 8 years) of 5 patients who received
deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens to treat their long-lasting
and treatment-resistant alcohol addiction. All patients reported a complete absence
of craving for alcohol; 2 patients remained abstinent for many years and 3 patients
showed a marked reduction of alcohol consumption. No severe or long-standing side
effects occurred. Therefore, DBS could be a promising, novel treatment option for
severe alcohol addiction, but larger clinical trials are needed to further investigate
the efficacy of DBS in addiction.
Key words
alcohol addiction - deep brain stimulation - nucleus accumbens - craving