The goal of this article is to shed light on Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) postoperative suicidality risk factors within Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) patients, in particular by focusing on the ethical concern of enrolling patient with history of self-estrangement, suicide attempts and impulsive-aggressive inclinations. In order to illustrate these ethical issues we report and review a clinical case associated with postoperative feelings of self-estrangement, self-harm behaviours and suicide attempt leading to the removal of DBS devices. Could prospectively identifying and excluding patients with suicidality risk factors from DBS experimental trials – such as history of self-estrangement, suicide attempts and impulsive-aggressive inclinations- lead to minimizing the risk of suicidality harm?

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	deep brain stimulation, eligibility, exclusion, experimental trial, feelings of self-estrangement, impulsive-aggressive disorder, suicide, treatment resistant depression
Research Division:	Philosophy and Religious Studies
Research Group:	Applied ethics
Research Field:	Ethical use of new technology
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in philosophy and religious studies
UTAS Author:	Gilbert, F (Associate Professor Frederic Gilbert)
ID Code:	82232
Year Published:	2013
Web of Science® Times Cited:	23
Deposited By:	School of Humanities
Deposited On:	2013-01-22
Last Modified:	2018-03-20
Downloads:	4 View Download Statistics