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Deep brain stimulation
If you want to know about deep brain stimulation for mental health problems, we have information to help you find out more.
And we also have information about non-surgical brain stimulation treatments.
What is deep brain stimulation?
Deep brain stimulation is a rare type of brain surgery. We might also hear it called ‘DBS’. If other treatments haven't helped, doctors might consider trying this to treat:
- Long-term obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Severe depression
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produces guidelines on best practice in healthcare. Its guidelines suggest that doctors can use deep brain stimulation to treat OCD, but only as part of research studies. Generally, there's not yet enough evidence on the safety and effectiveness of this treatment.
If you'd like to read more about its research, visit the NICE website.
How does deep brain stimulation work?
If you choose to have deep brain stimulation, doctors need to perform a surgical procedure.
Generally, the procedure for deep brain stimulation is as follows:
- Doctors put you under anaesthetic. They might use general anaesthetic, which makes you go to sleep. Or local anaesthetic, where you stay awake but have certain parts of your body numbed.
- Doctors create 2 small holes in your skull which allow them to implant electrodes in your brain. Electrodes are insulated wires that conduct electricity.
- Doctors then implant a stimulator device under the skin on your chest. The stimulator is similar to a pacemaker.
- Using wires under your skin, doctors can then connect the electrodes to the stimulator.
- When the connection is complete, the stimulator sends electric pulses through the electrodes to your brain. This stimulates certain parts of your brain.
- After the procedure, the electrodes and stimulator stay in your body. Doctors can then adjust or stop the levels of stimulation to your brain.
If you experience OCD, this treatment aims to reduce obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behaviours. You might find this works while your stimulation device is on. But these thoughts and behaviours might return when:
- Your doctor adjusts the electric pulses
- Your doctor turns the device off
- The battery runs out and needs a replacement
Deep brain stimulation doesn't work for everyone. And doctors should only consider it if other treatments haven't worked for you. For example, talking therapy and medication. You might also need to continue other treatments alongside deep brain stimulation.
What are the side effects of deep brain stimulation?
There can be side effects during the surgical procedure for deep brain stimulation. Or after the surgery. Potential side effects include:
- Infection after the operation
- Complications if the equipment goes wrong, such as problems with the stimulator
- Complications from the surgery, such as bleeding in the brain or experiencing fits
- Increased symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Confusion or forgetfulness
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
- Hypomania and mania
Some research also suggests that potential side effects include suicidal feelings. But researchers don't know if the brain surgery itself causes these feelings. Or if the existing mental health problem might cause these feelings.
Some side effects might go away or get better over time. Others might last for a longer period. Before you have surgery, doctors should explain the potential side effects. They should also talk to you about the likelihood of you experiencing them.
There's not enough research on how electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) affects deep brain stimulation. Some research suggests that ECT could cause side effects by damaging or interfering with the electrodes and device. Other research suggests that doctors can reduce this risk by turning off the stimulator before ECT.
What should I ask before getting deep brain stimulation?
If your doctor recommends deep brain stimulation, you should try asking some questions to learn more. Or you could ask someone you trust, or an advocate, to ask these questions for you:
- Why have you suggested that I try deep brain stimulation?
- What are the benefits for me of getting deep brain stimulation?
- How likely is it that deep brain stimulation will work for me?
- What are the risks and side effects of deep brain stimulation?
- What does the deep brain stimulation procedure involve?
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Have you already offered me every other available treatment?
- What happens if deep brain stimulation doesn't work?
- What happens if something goes wrong?
- How long will it take me to recover from surgery?
- How long until I might feel the benefits of deep brain stimulation?
What if deep brain stimulation doesn't work?
It might feel frustrating or disappointing if deep brain stimulation doesn't work for you. Especially if you've tried lots of different treatments already. Try not to blame yourself. And remember that different things work for different people.
If it doesn't help or causes too many side effects, you can talk to your doctor about removing the device and electrodes. They'll need to perform surgery again to remove these implants.
But there are other types of brain stimulation treatments which don't involve surgery. If your doctor has already offered as many treatments as possible, you could talk to them about these options.
Non-surgical brain stimulation treatments include:
What is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation?
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a type of brain stimulation. This treatment doesn't involve surgery. Instead, it involves stimulating your brain using magnetic fields.
NICE guidelines suggest that doctors could offer rTMS for severe depression. But they should only offer this if you haven't responded to other treatments. According to NICE, there are no major safety concerns for rTMS.
However, some evidence suggests that while rTMS seems to work in the short term, results vary between different studies. As for the long-term results of rTMS, there's not enough research yet.
If your doctor recommends trying rTMS, they should:
- Explain to you what rTMS involves
- Outline the risks and benefits of rTMS
- Explore other available treatment options, if they haven't already
How can I get repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation?
If you've tried other treatments for severe depression which haven't worked, your doctor might refer you for rTMS through the NHS. But as rTMS isn't available across the UK, you might need to travel to get this treatment.
You might be able to find a private healthcare provider offering rTMS. But for many of us, the cost of private treatment feels unaffordable.
What is transcranial direct-current stimulation?
Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a type of brain stimulation. This treatment doesn't involve surgery. It involves using weak electric currents to stimulate your brain.
Doctors deliver tDCS through a portable, battery-operated device. You usually get daily treatment of tDCS over several weeks. Treatment sessions last between 20 and 30 minutes.
NICE guidelines suggest that doctors could offer tDCS to treat depression. According to the guidelines, there are no major safety concerns for tDCS.
However, research on tDCS suggests varied levels of success in treating depression. Different studies suggest that tDCS:
- Might help reduce feelings of depression for some of us
- Doesn't improve feelings of depression for others
- Seems to work best when combined with other treatments for depression, such as antidepressants
There's not yet enough research about the effectiveness of tDCS for treating depression.
How can I get transcranial direct-current stimulation?
It's very uncommon for doctors to offer tDCS though the NHS. But some NHS trusts have offered tDCS as part of research or pilot studies.
There are some private healthcare providers offering tDCS. But the device can be expensive. Lots of us might find that we can't afford the cost of private tDCS treatment.
What is cranial electrotherapy stimulation?
Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is a type of brain stimulation. This treatment doesn't involve surgery. Doctors deliver CES though a small, portable device which clips into your ear.
NICE guidelines suggest that CES shows some potential for treating anxiety. But overall, there's not enough research yet. For example, research into whether CES has long-term benefits for those of us who experience anxiety.
How can I get cranial electrotherapy stimulation?
There's very limited access to CES though the NHS. A few NHS services have started using CES to treat anxiety. But it's still uncommon.
Some private healthcare providers might offer CES. But it's an expensive device. Private care, especially for a treatment like CES, might feel unaffordable for many of us.
Where else can I find support for mental health?
For information on how to get support, see our pages on seeking help for a mental health problem.
Go to pages on seeking helpAdvocate
An advocate is a person who can listen to you and speak for you. Having an advocate can be helpful in situations where you're finding it difficult to make your views known. Or to make people listen to them and take them into account.
See our pages on advocacy for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsLast reviewed: April 2026
Next review planned: April 2029
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