Special issue

C. Baeken, A. Aleman, P. Sienaert, A.T. Sack

Brain stimulation: the most direct form of neurostimulation

T.A. de Graaf, C. Baeken, P. Sienaert, A. Aleman, A.T. Sack

background Brain stimulation is the most direct form of neuromodulation. Direct brain stimulation is an older procedure that has taken various forms, but ‘non-invasive brain stimulation’ is a more recent development.
aim To provide an overview ...

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in psychiatric disorders: influential factors and combination of interventions

M.-A. Vanderhasselt, J. Dedoncker, M. Arns, C. Baeken

background The causal influence of cortico-subcortical connectivity by means of brain stimulation seems to be an effective biological treatment in psychiatric patients.
aim To review the working mechanisms and moderating factors of two non-invas...

Minimally invasive brain stimulation for unipolar depression

P. van Eijndhoven, I. Tendolkar, P. van Eijndhoven, I. Tendolkar, D.J.L.G. Schutter

background

Unipolar depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and has a high impact at individual and societal level. Commonly used treatments such as antidepressants and psychotherapy are often not effective.
aimTo determine ...

Usefulness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of bipolar depression

A. de Bruijn, I. Tendolkar, J. Spijker, M. Lochmann van Bennekom, P. van Eijndhoven

background Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rtms) has been found to be an effective technique in the treatment of unipolar depression. However, it is not yet clear whether rtms is also useful in the treatment of bipolar depression. ai...

Non-invasive brain stimulation in schizophrenia: hallucinations and negative symptoms

A. Aleman, J. Brummelman, J.J. Dlabac-de lange, S. Koops, H. Knegtering, S.F.W. Neggers, I.E. Sommer

background New approaches are needed in the treatment of characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations and negative symptoms. Non-invasive brain stimulation can make a useful contribution.
aim To discuss the published eviden...

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in obsessive compulsive disorder: a systematic review

A.M. Euser, A.F. Stapert, M. Oosterhoff, I.D.C. van Balkom, M. Figee

background Ten per cent of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) are resistant to treatment. For these patients, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rtms) may be an alternative form of treatment.
aim To clarify the effec...

ResPECT – a decade of Flemish-Dutch ECT research

P. Sienaert, M.L. Stek, H. Comijs, F.-L. de Winter, A. Dols, P. Eikelenboom, L. Emsell, K.H. Kho, R.M. Kok, J. Obbels, M.L. Oudega, D. Rhebergen, M. Vandenbulcke, O.A. van den Heuvel, E. van Exel, K. Vansteelandt, E. Verwijk, F. Bouckaert, H.P. Spaans

background There is increasing clinical and scientific interest in electroconvulsive therapy (ect).
aim To provide an overview of the main research findings of the Flemish-Dutch research consortium Respect.
method We report on our review of the...

Doctor, will I get my memory back? Electroconvulsive therapy and cognitive side-effects in daily practice

E. Verwijk, J. Obbels, H.P. Spaans, P. Sienaert

background Patients undergoing or about to undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are often afraid they will experience negative cognitive side-effects.
aim To answer questions that patients and referring clinicians often ask about cognitive pr...

Deep brain stimulation in psychiatry

M. Figee, C. Bervoets, D. Denys

background Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is now used regularly to treat therapy-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorders, and is being applied experimentally for refractory depression, Tourette syndrome, addiction, eating disorders, post-traumati...

Clinical effects of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques in substance use disorder: an overview

S.C. Herremans, C. Baeken

background Substance dependence is a chronic disorder that is difficult to treat. Non-invasive stimulation techniques may have beneficial effects on the course of the illness.
aim To provide an overview of studies that evaluate the clinical effe...

Non-invasive neurostimulation in the treatment of child and adolescent psychiatry

S. van der Meersche, G. Lemmens, C. Matton, C. Baeken

background Neurostimulation is a potentially interesting treatment option for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders.
aim To review the efficacy of two non-invasive neurostimulation techniques, namely repetitive transcranial magn...

Neuromodulation can be effective in patients with medically unexplained symptoms

M. van Beilen, H. Tieleman

background Neuromodulation may influence abnormal brain activation patterns in medically unexplained symptoms (MUS).
aim To assess the importance and direction of future studies on patients with MUS.
method We describe the results of the first ...

Ethical issues relating to deep brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders