Evaluation of the effect of subtalamic nucleus deep braine stimulation surgery on quality of life, depression and cognitive performance in patients with parkinson's patients

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effect of Subthalamic Nucleus (STN) Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery on quality of life, depression and cognitive performance in Parkinson's patients. In the study, 20 patients who had STN DBS surgery were screened before and after. The clinical level of the disease was determined with the Hoehn & Yahr Parkinson's Disease Level Scale. Quality of life was assessed with the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire Test (PDQ-39), depression level with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and cognitive performance with the Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, and Number Range Test. Data were collected in the preoperative period and at the 1st week, 1st month and 3rd month postoperatively. Non-parametric Friedman test was used in the analysis of variance of repeated measures, and multiple comparisons of significant results were made with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. According to the results of the study, while there was no significant difference in the scores obtained from the H&Y scale test, which determines the stage of Parkinson's disease, 1 week after the surgery, it was observed that the H&Y scores acquired after the surgery (at the 1st and 3rd months) decreased significantly. In the scores obtained from the PDQ-39 test, it was determined that the post-surgical scores increased significantly compared to the pre-surgery scores. There is a significant decrease in BDI scores at the 3rd month after surgery. The reaction times of the Stroop Test (forms A, B, C) and the Trail-Making Test (forms A and B) were compared before and after surgery (at the 1st and 3rd months) and showed a statistically significant decrease. The performance (Forward and Backward Number Range) from the Number Range Test increases significantly at 3 months after surgery when compared to pre-surgery. According to the findings acquired, while the measurements did not show a significant difference in the 1st week after surgery, the improvement observed in the 1st month in quality of life, Parkinson's symptoms and cognitive performance continued in the 3rd month; In parallel with these developments, a positive change was observed in the level of depression in the 3rd month. In conclusion; STN DBS surgery provides an improvement in the level of depression by reducing Parkinson's symptoms, increasing the quality of life and cognitive performance of the patients examined in this study. Keywords: Parkinson's Disease, Depression, Quality of Life, Cognitive Performance