Brain stimulation surgery compared with medication alone for Parkinson's impulse control problems
Tests brain stimulation surgery with medication in Parkinson's patients with impulse control problems.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Bilateral Subthalamic Stimulation in PD Patients With Impulse Control Disorders - STIMPulseControl
Key facts
- Where
- Cologne, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Kassel, Kiel, Marburg, Mitte, Tübingen, and Würzburg, GermanySee the 10 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 70 years old?
Source: NCT06498349, who can take part
Where in Germany
- University Hospital CologneCologne, GermanyTaking people
- University Hospital Carl Gustav CarusDresden, GermanyTaking people
- University Hospital DuesseldorfDüsseldorf, GermanyTaking people
- University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfHamburg, GermanyTaking people
- Paracelsus - Elena- KlinikKassel, GermanyNot yet recruiting
- University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus KielKiel, GermanyTaking people
- University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg (UKGM), Campus MarburgMarburg, GermanyTaking people
- Charité Campus MitteMitte, GermanyTaking people
- University Hospital TuebingenTübingen, GermanyTaking people
- University Hospital WuerzburgWürzburg, GermanyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Kiel
- Trial code
- NCT06498349
- Record updated
- 20 October 2026
- Original description
The focus of the study is on patients Parkinson's disease showing as well behavioral disorders that can be described as pathological and are summarized under the term impulse control disorder (ICD). Changes in behavior and also pathological disorders are a common side effect of treatment for Parkinson's disease. The goal of this academic study is to compare the effect of surgical (deep brain stimulation, DBS) treatment combined with a coordinated and adapted best medical treatment (BMT) to be compared with the effect of optimized best medical treatment (BMT) alone. The stimulation arm (DBS+BMT) as well as the medication arm (BMT only) will be monitored according to clinical routine. Participants will have to agree to be randomly assigned to either deep brain stimulation in combination with the best medical treatment (DBS group) or the best medical treatment alone (BMT group). Participants will have to come regularly according to clinical routine to the clinic and complete various questionaires and scales for the study.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Bilateral Subthalamic Stimulation in Patients With Parkinson's Disease and Impulse Control Disorders
The focus of the study is on patients Parkinson's disease showing as well behavioral disorders that can be described as pathological and are summarized under the term impulse control disorder (ICD). Changes in behavior and also pathological disorders are a common side effect of treatment for Parkinson's disease. The goal of this academic study is to compare the effect of surgical (deep brain stimulation, DBS) treatment combined with a coordinated and adapted best medical treatment (BMT) to be compared with the effect of optimized best medical treatment (BMT) alone. The stimulation arm (DBS+BMT) as well as the medication arm (BMT only) will be monitored according to clinical routine. Participants will have to agree to be randomly assigned to either deep brain stimulation in combination with the best medical treatment (DBS group) or the best medical treatment alone (BMT group). Participants will have to come regularly according to clinical routine to the clinic and complete various questionaires and scales for the study.
Inclusion: Age at the time of enrollment: ≤ 70 years; Diagnosis of PD according to MDS clinical diagnostic criteria; Onset of first PD motor symptoms ≥ 4 years; Moderate or severe impulse control disorder or related behavioral disorders according to Ardouin, with at least 1 score greater than or equal to 3 (or at least 2 scores greater than or equal to 2) on the Ardouin behaviour scale with the following items considered to reflect ICBDs or related behaviors: pathological gambling, hypersexuality, shopping, eating, hobbyism, punding and compulsive medication use; MDS-UPDRS III improvement of ≥ 30% in the standardized levodopa test or classical Parkinsonian tremor at rest; Adaptation of medical therapy has been attempted; MoCA ≥ 24 in the meds on condition; BDI-II score < 20 in the meds on condition, or Patients with moderately severe depression with a BDI-II between 20 and 28 points, strict consideration must be made with the involvement of a psychiatrist. Patients must be willing and able to comply this; Patients able to understand the study requirements and the treatment procedures; Written informed consent before any study-specific tests or procedures are performed.
Exclusion: Surgical contraindications to undergo DBS operation; Any prior movement disorder treatments that involved intracranial surgery/ablation or intracranial device implantation; Dementia (MoCA < 24) in the meds on condition; Any history of recurrent seizures or haemorrhagic stroke; Any terminal illness with significantly reduced life expectancy which exclude DBS implantation according to standard clinical care; Any impairment that would limit subject's ability to participate in the study and perform study procedures; Have any significant medical condition that is likely to interfere with study procedures or likely to confound evaluation of study endpoints; Ongoing severe depression (BDI-II > 28); suicidal ideation (item 9 of BDI-II > 1); Any other active implanted device that is likely to interfere with the implantation or functioning of the DBS system; Simultaneous participation in another clinical trial targeting or potentially interfering with ICD; Fertile women not using adequate contraceptive methods; A female who is breastfeeding or of child-bearing potential with a positive urine pregnancy test or not using adequate contraception.