Alcohol and opioid addicts offered brain surgery to improve-self control

People suffering from severe alcohol and opioid addiction are being offered the chance to have electrodes planted in their brain to improve-self control.

The technique – known as deep brain stimulation – is to be trialled at King’s College Hospital, in Denmark Hill.

The team behind the Brain-PACER study is currently recruiting people to take part in the trial.

Keyoumars Ashkan, Professor of Neurosurgery at King’s and the lead surgeon for the study, said: “Deep brain stimulation is a powerful surgical technique that can transform lives. 

“It will be a major leap forward if we can show efficacy in this very difficult disease with huge burden to the patients and society.”

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure which acts as a “brain pacemaker” to normalise abnormal brain activity. 

During surgery, thin electrodes are carefully placed in precise locations of the brain which are chosen based on the condition being treated. 

For addiction, the electrodes are placed in areas involved in reward, motivation, and decision-making.

The electrodes deliver electrical impulses, which can help alleviate symptoms of various neurological and psychiatric disorders.

It is well-tolerated, effective and widely used for neurological disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder, researchers say.

Although there have been several proof-of-concept studies that suggest DBS is effective in addictions, this is the first major study to use DBS to treat craving and relapse in severe addiction.

Details on the trial, including criteria for participation and how to sign up, can be found on the Brain-PACER website.

The research is supported by the Medical Research Council, UK Research & Innovation.

(Picture: Pixels/ Anna Shvets)