Electrical Brain Stimulation In Psychiatric Disorders Contributions From Research In Animal Models

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a therapy in neurological and psychiatric disorders is applied widely. In this respect, DBS in animal models is performed to study the underlying mechanisms and to evaluate new indications and technology. This chapter summarizes our experience with DBS in animal models, and relevant literature. Electrodes for DBS in animal models have been developed using translational principles, to allow DBS under anesthesia and in freely moving conditions. The stimulation parameters have been adjusted for the animals using current density calculations. This paradigm of experimental DBS has been validated in a variety of animal models of neurological and psychiatric disorders. During the process of development and validation of DBS in animal models, specific problems have been encountered, which are discussed in the chapter. DBS in animal models is an adequate paradigm to explore the underlying mechanisms and new indications for DBS, and to refine DBS technology.