Study Background

This scientific study investigates the effects of deep brain stimulation on impulse control and related behavioral disorders, which can occur as known side effects of Parkinson’s medications. These behavioral disorders include, for example, increased sexual desire, pathological gambling, disturbed eating behaviors such as cravings and compulsive shopping.

The aim of the study is to compare the effect of two different treatment approaches: deep brain stimulation as a surgical procedure and the currently recommended best possible medical treatment.

A total of 60 patients at a total of 12 university hospitals (9 in Germany, 2 in Switzerland and one university hospital in the Netherlands) will be included in the study.

This international joint project is carried out by several renowned universities.

The planning is being carried out in cooperation with the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, the Department of Neurology at the Inselspital in Bern and the University Hospital Amsterdam (UMC).

The implementation is coordinated by the Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials at the Philipps-Universität Marburg (KKS).

The study is funded by public funds, including the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Parkinson’s Fund Netherlands and project funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).