Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33606174›Full record

SynthesisNeuropsychology review2021

Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Mood Effects.

Tomas Cartmill, David Skvarc, Richard Bittar, Jane McGillivray, Michael Berk, Linda K Byrne

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neuropsychology review, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
35citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
3.3field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

35 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 48 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Management of Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease.Movement disorders clinical practice · 2025
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Precision medicine and music therapy for Parkinson's Disease.Clinical parkinsonism & related disorders · 2025
    Review
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Tomas CartmillFaculty of Arts, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. cartmillt@student.unimelb.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0001-7487-493X
David SkvarcSchool of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Richard BittarSchool of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Jane McGillivraySchool of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Michael BerkSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Linda K ByrneSchool of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Deakin University · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This meta-analysis examines mood changes after bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Deep brain stimulation improves motor outcomes in Parkinson's disease but there appears to be conflicting reports as to subsequent mood outcomes. Pubmed, PsychINFO and SCOPUS were searched for studies assessing mood outcomes in PD patients who had undergone STN-DBS published between January 2003 and the end of January 2019. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted for all outcome groups with at least two studies homogenous in design and measure. Forty-eight studies, providing data on negative moods (such as depression, anxiety, apathy, and anger) and positive moods (pleasure and euphoria) were assessed. Results of the meta-analysis suggest that post-DBS, depression and anxiety symptoms improve and there is a reduction in negative affect, an increase in apathy, and in energy level. Although there have been reported cases of mania post-DBS surgery, the meta-analysis suggested no significant changes in symptoms of mania in the broader DBS population. Considerable heterogeneity was found and partially addressed through meta-regression and qualitative assessment of the included STN-DBS controlled studies. The major strengths of this meta-analysis, include attention to outcome validity, heterogeneity, independence of samples, and clinical utility, with the potential to improve post-operative safety through comprehensive consideration of mood and psychological adjustment. It appears that STN-DBS is a relatively safe and, in the case of mood symptomatology, an advantageous treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Indexed as

ApathyDeep Brain StimulationParkinson DiseaseSubthalamic NucleusHumansMood DisordersDBSEmotionMeta-analysisMoodSub-thalamic nucleus

Identifiers

PMID33606174
OpenAlexW3131807928

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.