Psychiatric Conditions

Depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are common conditions which can result in a great deal of difficulty carrying out everyday activities and can substantially impair a person’s quality of life. Whilst many individuals with depression and OCD can be successfully treated with medications, psychological strategies, or other non-surgical approaches, deep brain stimulation has recently revolutionised the treatment of those with severe and unresponsive OCD or depression. Professor Bittar runs the only comprehensive and multidisciplinary psychosurgery program in Australia. The result of deep brain stimulation for these conditions to date has been very encouraging.