Anxiety Disorders: Brown University

Weisberg RB. · Brown University, Box G-BH, Duncan Building, Providence, RI 02912, USA. · J Clin Psychiatry. · Pubmed #19371500 No free full text.

Abstract: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was defined relatively recently, and the diagnostic criteria are still being refined. The essential feature of the disorder has changed from persistent anxiety to excessive worry, and the required symptom duration has changed from 1 month to 6 months. Additionally, exclusion criteria involving permissibility of the diagnosis in children and wording regarding the relationship of GAD with mood disorders have changed. Nosologic controversies still surround the criteria for excessive worry, symptom duration, the relationship between GAD and major depressive disorder, and the required number of associated symptoms. Alterations in the criteria have been suggested, but more research is needed on the validity of these proposed changes. Generalized anxiety disorder appears to be highly prevalent. In the United States, the lifetime prevalence of DSM-IV GAD is estimated to be about 5% and the current prevalence to be about 2% to 3%. The disorder is differentially prevalent across gender and ethnic and social groups. The course of GAD is chronic and can be exacerbated by poor family relationships, comorbid cluster C personality disorders, and comorbid Axis I disorders. Impairment and suicidal ideation are associated with GAD.

LaFrance WC, Kanner AM, Hermann B. · Brown Medical School, Rhode Island Hospital, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. · Int Rev Neurobiol. · Pubmed #18929092 No free full text.

Abstract: Psychiatric disorders can be identified in 25-50% of patients with epilepsy, with higher prevalence among patients with poorly controlled seizures. These disturbances include depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, cognitive, and personality changes occurring in the interictal or ictal/postictal states. In this chapter, we describe four areas of focus in women with epilepsy: comorbid primary psychiatric processes, integrated symptoms secondary to epilepsy, stigma and psychosocial consequences of epilepsy, and nonepileptic seizures.

Benun J, Lewis C, Siegel M. · Hasbro Children's Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. · Pediatr Rev. · Pubmed #18593756 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Nugent NR, Amstadter AB, Koenen KC. · Brown Medical School and Bradley/ Hasbro Children's Research Center, USA. · Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. · Pubmed #18412098 links to  free full text

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of genetic research involving post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). First, we summarize evidence for genetic influences on PTSD from family investigations. Second, we discuss the distinct contributions to our understanding of the genetics of PTSD permitted by twin studies. Finally, we summarize findings from molecular genetic studies, which have the potential to inform our understanding of underlying biological mechanisms for the development of PTSD.

Friehs GM, Park MC, Goldman MA, Zerris VA, Norén G, Sampath P. · Department of Clinical Neurosciences Program in Neurosurgery and New England Gamma Knife Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. · Neurosurg Focus. · Pubmed #18081480 No free full text.

Abstract: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with the Gamma Knife and linear accelerator has revolutionized neurosurgery over the past 20 years. The most common indications for radiosurgery today are tumors and arteriovenous malformations of the brain. Functional indications such as treatment of movement disorders or intractable pain only contribute a small percentage of treated patients. Although SRS is the only noninvasive form of treatment for functional disorders, it also has some limitations: neurophysiological confirmation of the target structure is not possible, and one therefore must rely exclusively on anatomical targeting. Furthermore, lesion sizes may vary, and shielding adjacent radiosensitive neural structures may be difficult or impossible. The most common indication for functional SRS is the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Radiosurgical treatment for epilepsy and certain psychiatric illnesses is performed in several centers as part of strict research protocols, and radiosurgical pallidotomy or medial thalamotomy is no longer recommended due to the high risk of complications. Radiosurgical ventrolateral thalamotomy for the treatment of tremor in patients with Parkinson disease or multiple sclerosis, as well as in the treatment of essential tremor, may be indicated for a select group of patients with advanced age, significant medical conditions that preclude treatment with open surgery, or patients who must receive anticoagulation therapy. A promising new application of SRS is high-dose radiosurgery delivered to the pituitary stalk. This treatment has already been successfully performed in several centers around the world to treat severe pain in patients with end-stage cancer.

Borek LL, Chou KL, Friedman JH. · Neurohealth Alzheimer's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, and Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Butler Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, RI, USA. · Expert Rev Neurother. · Pubmed #17563253 No free full text.

Abstract: Parkinson's disease is a progressive and debilitating movement disorder that is diagnosed by its motor signs. The behavioral manifestations of Parkinson's disease are prevalent and frequently complicate the course of the disease. These may be due to the illness itself or its treatment and are often more disabling than the motor symptoms. This review focuses on the management of the most common behavioral symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, dementia, delirium, sleep disorders, fatigue, apathy, emotionalism and compulsive behaviors.

Phillips KA, Kaye WH. · Brown Medical School, Providence, RI, USA. · CNS Spectr. · Pubmed #17514080 links to  free full text

Abstract: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and eating disorders are body image disorders that have long been hypothesized to be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Available data suggest that BDD and eating disorders are often comorbid with OCD. Data from a variety of domains suggest that both BDD and eating disorders have many similarities with OCD and seem related to OCD. However, these disorders also differ from OCD in some ways. Additional research is needed on the relationship of BDD and eating disorders to OCD, including studies that directly compare them to OCD in a variety of domains, including phenomenology, family history, neurobiology, and etiology.

Freeman JB, Choate-Summers ML, Moore PS, Garcia AM, Sapyta JJ, Leonard HL, Franklin ME. · Bradley/Hasbro Research Center, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. · Biol Psychiatry. · Pubmed #17241829 links to  free full text

Abstract: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a distressing and functionally impairing disorder that can emerge as early as age 4. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for OCD in youth shows great promise for amelioration of symptoms and associated functional impairment. However, the empirical evidence base for the efficacy of CBT in youth has some significant limitations, particularly as related to treating the very young child with OCD. This report includes a quantitative review of existing child CBT studies to evaluate evidence for the efficacy of CBT for OCD. It identifies gaps in the literature that, when addressed, would enhance the understanding of effective treatment in pediatric OCD. Finally, it presents a proposed research agenda for addressing the unique concerns of the young child with OCD.

Keller MB. · Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI 02912, USA. · J Clin Psychiatry. · Pubmed #17092191 No free full text.

Abstract: Preliminary findings from a long-term, prospective, longitudinal, naturalistic treatment study of adults with social anxiety disorder (SAD) demonstrate that this illness has a chronic course and a greater adverse impact on social functioning than do depressive symptoms or chronic medical illnesses. Comorbid anxiety, depressive, and personality disorders are common in patients with SAD. Only 35% of patients with SAD recovered after 10 years of prospective follow-up. Whereas, the relapse rate, once recovery is achieved, is 34% during this 10-year follow-up. Treatment is underutilized in patients with SAD, and a long-term treatment approach may be needed to improve the likelihood of recovery from SAD.

Borek LL, Amick MM, Friedman JH. · Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA. · CNS Spectr. · Pubmed #16816793 links to  free full text

Abstract: Parkinson's disease is primarily considered to be a movement disorder and is defined by its motor signs. Yet, the behavioral manifestations of the disease are often more debilitating than its motor complications. This review will focus on the non-motor aspects of Parkinson's disease, including mood, psychosis, cognitive, sleep, fatigue, apathy, delirium, and repetitive disorders, that may occur. The phenomenology, pathology, and treatment of the behavioral symptoms of Parkinson's disease will be discussed.

Mancebo MC, Eisen JL, Grant JE, Rasmussen SA. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA. · Ann Clin Psychiatry. · Pubmed #16402751 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The overlap between obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has received increasing recognition and continues to be a source of much debate. With the advent of new research methodologies, researchers have attempted to distinguish whether OCPD and OCD are two distinct phenomena that can co-occur or whether they are similar, overlapping constructs. METHODS: MEDLINE was used to systematically review the OCPD and OCD literature published between 1991 and 2004. RESULTS: Using the more stringent DSM-IV criteria, results from OCD clinical samples suggest that the majority of individuals with OCD (75%) do not have OCPD. Similarly, results from personality disorder samples suggest that the majority of individuals with OCPD (80%) do not have OCD. CONCLUSIONS: While there is evidence that OCD and OCPD are linked, the literature does not support either one as a necessary or sufficient component of the other.

Kohn R, Levav I, de Almeida JM, Vicente B, Andrade L, Caraveo-Anduaga JJ, Saxena S, Saraceno B. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA. · Rev Panam Salud Publica. · Pubmed #16354419 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The growing burden of mental disorders in Latin America and the Caribbean has become too large to ignore. There is a need to know more about the prevalence of mental disorders and the gap between the number of individuals with psychiatric disorders and the number of those persons who remain untreated even though effective treatments exist. Having that knowledge would make it possible to improve advocacy, adopt better policies, formulate innovative intervention programs, and apportion resources commensurate with needs. METHODS: Data were extracted from community-based psychiatric epidemiological studies published in Latin America and the Caribbean from 1980 through 2004 that used structured diagnostic instruments and provided prevalence rates. Estimates of the crude rates in Latin America and the Caribbean for the various disorders were determined by calculating the mean and median rates across the studies, by gender. In addition, data on service utilization were reviewed in order to calculate the treatment gap for specific disorders. RESULTS: Nonaffective psychosis (including schizophrenia) had an estimated mean one-year prevalence rate of 1.0%; major depression, 4.9%; and alcohol use abuse or dependence, 5.7%. Over one-third of individuals with nonaffective psychosis, over half of those with an anxiety disorder, and some three-fourths of those with alcohol use abuse or dependence did not receive mental health care from either specialized or general health services. CONCLUSIONS: The current treatment gap in mental health care in Latin America and the Caribbean remains wide. Further, current data likely greatly underestimate the number of untreated individuals. The epidemiological transition and changes in the population structure will further widen the treatment gap in Latin America and the Caribbean unless mental health policies are formulated or updated and programs and services are expanded.

Leonard HL, Ale CM, Freeman JB, Garcia AM, Ng JS. · The Pediatric Anxiety Research Clinic (PARC) at the Bradley Hasbro Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Coro West 2, Providence, RI 02906, USA. · Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. · Pubmed #16171700 No free full text.

Abstract: Compulsions are meant to relieve anxiety or to prevent a dreaded event. An adolescent or adult may recognize that the ritual is unreasonable or excessive, but that is not necessarily true for the young child. Children and adolescents will attempt to hide their rituals, although with more severe symptoms, this is not usually possible. To meet the diagnostic criteria for the disorder, the person must experience distress, spend more than 1 hour a day in either obsessions or compulsions, or experience significant interference in his/her life. This article reviews the phenomenology, causes, treatment, and outcome of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Owens JA. · Division of Pediatric Ambulatory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. · J Dev Behav Pediatr. · Pubmed #16100507 No free full text.

Abstract: The relationship between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep is a complex one that poses many challenges in clinical practice. Recent studies have helped to elucidate the nature of the brain mechanisms and neuromodulator systems underlying the theoretical associations among sleepiness, arousal, and attention. Studies of sleep disturbances in children with academic and behavioral problems have also underscored the role that primary sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome play in the clinical presentation of symptoms of inattention and behavioral dysregulation. In addition, new methodologies used in examining sleep and sleep patterns in children diagnosed with ADHD have shed further light on the prevalence, type, risk factors for, and impact of sleep disturbances in these children. The following discussion of the multilevel relationships among sleep quality and quantity, neurobehavioral functioning, and the clinical syndrome of ADHD expands on previous reviews of the literature and synthesizes what is currently known about the interaction of sleep and attention/arousal in children to propose possible underlying mechanisms, integrate more recent findings, and highlight important areas for future study. In addition, guidelines are provided for a clinical approach to evaluation and management of children with ADHD and sleep problems.

Zimmerman M, Posternak MA, Attiullah N, Friedman M, Boland RJ, Baymiller S, Berlowitz SL, Rahman S, Uy KK, Singer S, Chelminski I. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA. · J Clin Psychiatry. · Pubmed #15889947 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Reviews of antidepressant medication efficacy suggest that all antidepressants are equally effective. Bupropion is less likely than other antidepressants to cause weight gain and sexual dysfunction, the 2 side effects that are of greatest concern to patients and that have the greatest impact on long-term compliance. If bupropion is as effective as other antidepressants, and it does not cause the side effects that are the most frequent causes of long-term noncompliance, then why isn't it the most frequently prescribed antidepressant medication? To understand psychiatrists' decision making at the time an antidepressant is chosen, we conducted the Rhode Island Factors Associated With Antidepressant Choice Survey (FAACS). METHOD: For 1137 DSM-IV-diagnosed depressed patients initiated on an antidepressant, the treating psychiatrist completed a 43-item questionnaire listing factors that might have influenced the choice of medication. The questionnaire was filled out immediately after the antidepressant was prescribed to treat a depressive disorder. This study was conducted from August 2001 to February 2002. RESULTS: Because the reasons for choosing a medication to augment an existing regimen might be different from those used in monotherapy, augmentation trials were excluded from the analysis, leaving a sample of 965 patients. Bupropion was rarely prescribed when the presence of comorbid anxiety disorders or symptoms reflecting central nervous system activation influenced antidepressant selection. When the desire to avoid side effects, especially sexual dysfunction and weight gain, were the basis of selection, then bupropion was significantly more often prescribed than other antidepressants (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Although there is little evidence that patient factors predict differential medication response, psychiatrists are strongly inclined to base antidepressant selection on clinical profiles and avoid prescribing bupropion for depressed patients with high anxiety. Possible reasons for the discrepancy between psychiatrists' prescribing habits and the results of empirical study are discussed.

Kohn R, Saxena S, Levav I, Saraceno B. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. · Bull World Health Organ. · Pubmed #15640922 links to  free full text

Abstract: Mental disorders are highly prevalent and cause considerable suffering and disease burden. To compound this public health problem, many individuals with psychiatric disorders remain untreated although effective treatments exist. We examine the extent of this treatment gap. We reviewed community-based psychiatric epidemiology studies that used standardized diagnostic instruments and included data on the percentage of individuals receiving care for schizophrenia and other non-affective psychotic disorders, major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and alcohol abuse or dependence. The median rates of untreated cases of these disorders were calculated across the studies. Examples of the estimation of the treatment gap for WHO regions are also presented. Thirty-seven studies had information on service utilization. The median treatment gap for schizophrenia, including other non-affective psychosis, was 32.2%. For other disorders the gap was: depression, 56.3%; dysthymia, 56.0%; bipolar disorder, 50.2%; panic disorder, 55.9%; GAD, 57.5%; and OCD, 57.3%. Alcohol abuse and dependence had the widest treatment gap at 78.1%. The treatment gap for mental disorders is universally large, though it varies across regions. It is likely that the gap reported here is an underestimate due to the unavailability of community-based data from developing countries where services are scarcer. To address this major public health challenge, WHO has adopted in 2002 a global action programme that has been endorsed by the Member States.

Palm KM, Polusny MA, Follette VM. · Brown Medical School and Butler Hospital, Providence, RI 02906, USA. · Prehosp Disaster Med. · Pubmed #15453162 No free full text.

Abstract: Disaster and trauma workers often disregard their own reactions and needs when focusing on caring for those directly exposed to traumatic events. This article discusses the concept of vicarious traumatization, a form of post-traumatic stress response sometimes experienced by those who indirectly are exposed to traumatic events. It includes an examination of how vicarious trauma reactions are experienced across different professions, and suggestions on how to limit or prevent vicarious traumatization. The authors review self-care strategies as well as training and organizational considerations that may be beneficial for individuals and organizations to address.

Mello AA, Mello MF, Carpenter LL, Price LH. · Butler Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown Medical School, Rhode Island, USA. · Rev Bras Psiquiatr. · Pubmed #15328550 links to  free full text

Abstract: Over the past 50 years, relationships between stress and the neurobiological changes seen in psychiatric disorders have been well-documented. A major focus of investigations in this area has been the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, both as a marker of stress response and as a mediator of additional downstream pathophysiologic changes. This review examines the emerging literature concerning the relationship between stress, HPA axis function, and depression, as well as the role of early life stress as an important risk factor for HPA axis dysregulation. The more recent studies reviewed suggest that the prominence of HPA axis hyperactivity in adults with depressive and anxiety disorders may constitute a link between the occurrence of adversity in childhood and the development of adult psychopathology.

Grant JE, Potenza MN. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown Medical School, Butler Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA. · Ann Clin Psychiatry. · Pubmed #15147110 No free full text.

Abstract: This article reviews the current knowledge of the clinical characteristics and pharmacological management of pathological gambling, kleptomania, and compulsive buying. Specifically, the article summarizes the phenomenology and associated psychopathology of these disorders and presents study results of the various pharmacological agents used to treat these disorders--serotonin reuptake inhibitors, opioid antagonists, mood stabilizers, and atypical antipsychotics.

Jenny C, Roesler TA. · Child Protection Program, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI, USA. · Med Health R I. · Pubmed #14983536 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Keller MB. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. · Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. · Pubmed #12950439 No free full text.

Abstract: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is among the most frequently observed psychiatric disorders, with estimates of approximately 10% of people likely to suffer from the disorder during their lifetime. However, despite causing significant impairment of normal functioning, this disorder is often mistaken as shyness and remains under-recognized and under-treated. Following onset in adolescence, patients with generalized SAD often experience a lifelong and unremitting mental disorder characterized by severe anxiety and disability. Typical duration of the illness is far in excess of that seen in panic disorder, and prospective, long-term, naturalistic studies have indicated that only one-third of individuals attain remission from SAD within 8 years, compared with over two-thirds of those with panic disorder. Comorbidity of other anxiety disorders, depression and personality disorders are common in SAD and associated with more pronounced impairment and a poorer long-term outcome. Effective treatment for SAD is available but use is low and may remain suboptimal, despite the development of pharmacotherapeutic agents with anxiolytic and antidepressant properties and the efficacy of psychotherapeutic approaches. Increased knowledge of the course of SAD highlights the need to examine the role of available treatments, administered individually or in combination, as acute, continuation or maintenance therapy to maximize the chances of remission and long-term benefit for patients.

Greenberg BD, Rezai AR. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. · CNS Spectr. · Pubmed #12894033 No free full text.

Abstract: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is established as a therapy for movement disorders, and it is an investigational treatment in other neurologic conditions. DBS precisely targets neuroanatomical targets deep within the brain that are proposed to be centrally involved in the pathophysiology of some neuropsychiatric illnesses. DBS is nonablative, offering the advantages of reversibility and adjustability. This might permit therapeutic effectiveness to be enhanced or side effects to be minimized. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown effects of DBS locally, at the stimulation target, and at a distance, via actions on fibers of passage or across synapses. Although its mechanisms of action are not fully elucidated, several effects have been proposed to underlie the therapeutic effects of DBS in movement disorders, and potentially in other conditions as well. The mechanisms of action of DBS are the focus of active investigation in a number of clinical and preclinical laboratories. As in severe movement disorders, DBS may offer a degree of hope for patients with intractable neuropsychiatric illness. It is already clear that research intended to realize this potential will require a very considerable commitment of resources, energy, and time across disciplines including psychiatry, neurosurgery neurology, neuropsychology, bioengineering, and bioethics. These investigations should proceed cautiously.

Freeman JB, Garcia AM, Fucci C, Karitani M, Miller L, Leonard HL. · Child and Family Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. · J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. · Pubmed #12880502 No free full text.

Abstract: Despite a meaningful common core of symptoms observed across the life span, there are particularly unique features of early-onset (prepubertal) obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that make consideration of early presentation different from adolescent or adult onset and that may have important implications for treatment. This article will first review the unique features of early-onset OCD, focusing particular attention to the developmental and familial context of these children's symptoms. The literature on behavioral family interventions for other childhood disorders, specifically anxiety, as well as that on family processes (e.g., parent-child interactions) in families of children with OCD will be reviewed. The pediatric OCD cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) literature (CBT alone and CBT plus medication) will also be reviewed, focusing on current evidence-based treatment guidelines. Finally, a model of family-based treatment for young children with OCD and some preliminary pilot data will be presented.

Posternak MA. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA. · Harv Rev Psychiatry. · Pubmed #12866736 No free full text.

Abstract: The atypical features subtype of major depressive disorder was introduced into DSM-IV largely on the basis of the preferential response shown by a subset of depressed patients to monoamine oxidase inhibitors. In the present report, studies evaluating the biological nature of atypical depression are reviewed to determine whether they support the existence of this subtype. Four lines of research are considered: studies involving hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, cerebral laterality, neurochemical profiles, and sleep parameters. Taken together, the findings of these investigations do support the existence of the atypical features subtype. Furthermore, many of the features known to be associated with atypical depression, such as higher prevalence in women, higher prevalence of comorbid anxiety disorders, and younger age of onset, may be accounted for by the biological underpinnings of the disorder.

Greenberg BD, Price LH, Rauch SL, Friehs G, Noren G, Malone D, Carpenter LL, Rezai AR, Rasmussen SA. · Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown Medical School, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI 02906, USA. · Neurosurg Clin N Am. · Pubmed #12856488 No free full text.

Abstract: Intractable OCD and depression cause tremendous suffering in those affected and in their families. The impaired ability to function of those affected imposes a heavy burden on society as a whole. Existing data suggest that lesion procedures offer benefit to a large proportion (ranging from about 35%-70%) of patients with intractable OCD and depression. The literature also suggests that although serious long-term adverse events have occurred, these are relatively infrequent overall. Methodologic limitations of the earlier reports on any of these procedures were described previously in this article. The major academic centers conducting this work have since been obtaining systematic prospective data using modern assessment tools. Nevertheless, even with improved methodologies, more recent studies confront some remaining issues that have been difficult to overcome fully. First, the number of patients who have received any one procedure has been relatively small, constraining statistical power. This limits the ability of researchers to enhance patient selection based on clinical characteristics. This is important, because patients with intractable OCD and depression referred for neurosurgery have high rates of comorbid Axis I diagnoses, personality disorders, and functional impairments, which may have value in predicting response. Other features, such as age of onset, chronicity, and symptom subtypes, may be likewise useful. Another key factor in response may be postoperative management, which has varied most over time but also across patients enrolled in trials. As noted previously, randomized controlled trials of neurosurgical treatment for intractable psychiatric illness have not been reported, although one has been proposed for gamma knife capsulotomy in intractable OCD [23]. The development of deep brain stimulation has also made sham-controlled studies possible and also allows within-patient designs to be considered. Bearing these problems in mind, the literature does provide important guidance on a number of key points, including approaches to referral, patient selection, and the need for long-term prospective follow-up and postoperative management. Nevertheless, important gaps in knowledge remain in all these areas. Research is expected to narrow these gaps in a number of ways, including patient selection, optimizing the procedures themselves, and understanding the mechanisms of therapeutic action. Neuroimaging studies will play a key role in achieving these aims (see the article by Rauch in this issue). So will cross-species translational research on the anatomy and physiology of the pathways implicated in the pathophysiology and response to treatment in these disorders. Future research in psychiatric neurosurgery must proceed cautiously. A recent editorial statement of the OCD-DBS Collaborative Group [26] recommends a minimum set of standards for any multidisciplinary teams contemplating work in this domain. The rationale for those standards is found throughout this issue and is especially developed in the article by Fins. The need for safe and effective therapeutic options for people suffering with these severe illnesses is just as clear. The experience over the last several decades provides grounds for careful optimism that refined lesion procedures or reversible deep brain stimulation may relieve suffering and improve the lives of people with these devastating disorders.