Cocaine and dopamine abuse improved by subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in one Parkinsonian patient.

This article discusses the case of a Parkinson's disease patient who experienced improvement in cocaine and dopamine abuse after undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN). The patient had a history of severe cocaine addiction and impulse control disorder (ICD) induced by dopamine replacement therapy. After STN-DBS, the patient no longer used cocaine, experienced a decrease in dopamine dependence, and had improved motor symptoms. However, the patient developed apathy and a mild depressive state, which may be a side effect of the surgery. The article suggests that STN-DBS may be a potential treatment for certain forms of addiction. [Extracted from the article]