Neuromodulation shows increasing promise in the treatment of psychiatric disorders,
particularly obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Development of tools and techniques
including deep brain stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and electroconvulsive
therapy may yield additional options for patients who fail to respond to standard treatments.
This article reviews the motivation for and use of these treatments in OCD. We begin with a
brief description of the illness followed by discussion of the circuit models thought to underlie …

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder defined by recurrent
obsessions or compulsions that cause significant impairments in daily functioning. Global
prevalence of OCD is 1% to 2%, 1, 2 with slight female gender predominance among adults,
but a 2: 1 male/female ratio among pediatric patients. 2 The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision defines obsessions as recurrent
and persistent thoughts or impulses that cause marked distress, with the person driven to …