In a path-breaking effort, the first of its kind in India, expert team of Neurosurgeons at Marengo Asia Hospitals Gurugram successfully treated a patient suffering from severe schizophrenia through Deep Brain Stimulation. This ground breaking procedure, which has been performed only 13 times globally, marks a remarkable advancement in the treatment of this debilitating mental illness and reinforces Marengo Asia Hospitals' commitment to pushing the boundaries of medical innovation. The team was headed by Dr Himanshu Champaneri, Senior Consultant, Department of Neurosurgery, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram.

The 28 - Year - old patient, Abdul ( name changed ), had been diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 13 years. Despite undergoing various medication regimens, he had been experiencing persistent hallucinations, and delusions among other symptoms of schizophrenia and the symptoms of schizophrenia had only progressively worsened over the years. Driven by the desire to provide the best possible care, the patient's father sought the expertise of Dr. Himanshu Champaneri at Marengo Asia Hospitals Gurugram after learning about the possibilities of a neurosurgical intervention. 

The entire procedure took 8 - 10 hours and the patient was monitored in ICU overnight. On day 2 postoperatively he was able to walk and also felt 70 - 80% improvement in his symptoms. The outcome of the planned DBS procedure has been successful, and the patient has currently shown promising outcomes with the earlier symptom reduction and overall improvement in his condition.

* There are only 14 such cases reported all over the world.    

* A surgical intervention is recommended for such patients only when their body becomes resistant to the drugs.

* While DBS is primarily known for its application in movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, its potential in treating psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, is increasingly being recognised.