Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Review

Radiosurgery for psychiatric disorders has been performed for more than 50 years. The use of deep brain stimulation has recently been expanded to the investigational treatment of specific psychiatric disorders. A literature review of past studies incorporating radiosurgical stereotactic lesions for psychiatric disorders was performed to provide historic context and possible guidance for current and future attempts at treating psychiatric disorders, especially by gamma capsulotomy. The anatomic target localization, dose selection, and the outcome of the radiosurgical procedures were reviewed, and the evolutions of lesioning strategies were analyzed with particular emphasis on the dose selection. Large-scale prospective studies with strict inclusion and well-defined, objective outcome criteria are necessary for defining the role of radiosurgery for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.