Pre-surgical Psychological Evaluations Chronic Pain and Opioid Risk Evaluations

Your doctor has recommended a deep brain stimulator (DBS) to manage your symptoms and
now you are preparing for the procedure. Your neurosurgeon will explain to you that when
traditional treatments such as medications haven’t provided the symptom relief you need, a DBS
may offer an alternative for managing many neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease,
essential tremors, dystonia and other neurological disorders. There is also evidence to support its
use with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or  Tourette’s disorder. It is a sophisticated
neurostimulation device. DBS leads are surgically placed in the brain to deliver electrical
impulses to the brain, interrupting the irregular signals that cause tremors and other movement
symptoms.
 

Your psychological evaluation is a way to ensure you have the tools you need for the best
possible outcome and is a valuable step in your journey toward relief. The assessment will help
me understand your emotional well-being, cognitive functioning, preparedness, and your support
systems in anticipation of the procedure.
 

We will begin with a consultation where you can tell your story, from the neurological onset to
your hopes for life after a DBS implantation. We will use standardized questionnaires to help me
understand how your daily physical and cognitive functioning is being impacted and how you are
coping with the changes you are experiencing. We can discuss how you process stress and
manage your condition. Once completed, I will review the results with you, answer your
questions, address any remaining concerns. If needed I can offer you suggestions to help tailor a
psychotherapeutic treatment plan to your unique psychological profile. I'll then send the report to your physician.

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While most people are suitable candidates for this procedure, we simply want to make sure that
there aren't any psychological, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, or psychosocial lifestyle factors that might impact your safety or recovery. If DBS isn't the best fit for you right now, I’ll update your physician with detailed feedback to ensure they have the information needed to recommend alternative treatments or help you effectively manage your symptoms until you're ready to reconsider DBS.
 

I look forward to meeting with you as you explore the exciting option of a deep brain
stimulator.