Hypersexuality following subthalamic nucleus stimulation for Parkinson's disease

Subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation is an established surgical treatment for Parkinson′s disease (PD). Though the motor benefits of STN stimulation are well understood, its cognitive and behavioral effects are still not fully understood. Manic psychosis, hypersexuality, pathological gambling and mood swings are associated with advanced PD. There have been reports to suggest improvement or worsening in these symptoms following STN deep brain stimulation (DBS). We report two cases as the sole behavioral side-effects of STN stimulation despite good clinical improvement on long-term follow-up. These patients and literature review suggests the complex role of STN stimulation in motor and behavioral control.

Keywords
Behavioral side-effects, DBS, hypersexuality, Parkinson′s disease, STN stimulation.