REVIEW

Neurosurgical Treatment of Depression in Brazil: a scoping review

Tratamento Neurocirúrgico da Depressão no Brasil: uma revisão de escopo

  • José Weber Vieira de Faria    José Weber Vieira de Faria
  • Karina do Valle Marques    Karina do Valle Marques
  • Rebeca Remanzini    Rebeca Remanzini
  • Rayssa Lopes de Souza    Rayssa Lopes de Souza
  • Elisa Santos Pennisi    Elisa Santos Pennisi
  • Lucas Kenzo Ozera    Lucas Kenzo Ozera
  • Ariane Aparecida Correa de Miranda    Ariane Aparecida Correa de Miranda
  • Milene Carrara Carmo Garcia    Milene Carrara Carmo Garcia
  Views: 125
  Downloads: 8

Resumo

Introdução: entender o histórico da psicocirurgia é fundamental para contextualizar os avanços recentes na área e atualizar nossas percepções sobre o tema. Objetivo: mapear e narrar a abrangência e as características das pesquisas científicas conduzidas por autores filiados a instituições brasileiras sobre o tratamento neurocirúrgico do Transtorno Depressivo Refratário e fornecer evidencias que apoiem o processo de ensino e aprendizagem dessa temática. Método: realizou-se uma Revisão de Escopo a partir de um levantamento bibliográfico nas bases Pub Med, Lilacs, SciELO, BVS, Portal Capes e website de periódicos. Descreveu-se o desenho dos estudos, os procedimentos cirúrgicos utilizados e conclusões. Resultados: foram incluídas quarenta publicações, realizadas de 1944 a 2024. Em torno de 52,5% das publicações foram em fontes nacionais. As instituições com maior número foram a USP-SP (8), Hospital do Juqueri (7) e Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (6), e as instituições estrangeiras: University of Texas (6), Massachussets General Hospital – Harvard Medical School (4), University of Toronto (4) e Toronto Western Hospital (3). Encontrou-se estudos que relatam leucotomias, lobotomias, cirurgias estereotáxicas ablativas com termocoagulação, radiocirurgia e estimulação cerebral profunda. Conclusão: ofereceu-se uma visão geral das evidências emergentes no campo da Psicocirurgia para o Transtorno Depressivo Refratário.

Palavras-chave

Estimulação cerebral profunda; Procedimentos neurocirúrgicos; Psicocirurgia; Transtorno depressivo; Transtornos do humor

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding the history of psychosurgery is essential to contextualize recent advances in the field and update our perceptions on the topic. Objective: To map and describe the scope and characteristics of scientific research conducted by authors affiliated with Brazilian institutions on the neurosurgical treatment of Refractory Depressive Disorder and provide evidence to support the teaching and learning process on this topic. Method: A scoping review was conducted based on a bibliographic survey of PubMed, Lilacs, SciELO, BVS, Portal Capes, and journal websites. The study designs, surgical procedures used, and conclusions were described. Results: Forty publications published between 1944 and 2024 were included. Approximately 52.5% of the publications were from national sources. The institutions with the largest number were USP-SP (8), Hospital do Juqueri (7), and Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (6), and abroad institutions included the University of Texas (6), Massachusetts General Hospital – Harvard Medical School (4), University of Toronto (4), and Toronto Western Hospital (3). Studies reporting leukotomies, lobotomies, stereotactic ablative surgeries with thermocoagulation, radiosurgery, and deep brain stimulation were found. Conclusion: an overview of emerging evidence in the field of psychosurgery for refractory depressive disorder was provided.

Keywords

Deep brain stimulation; Neurosurgical procedures; Psychosurgery; Depressive disorder; Mood disorders

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1Faculdade de Medicina – FAMED, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia – UFU, Uberlândia, MG, Brasil.

2Departamento de Cirurgia Esterotáxica, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia – HC-UFU/EBSERH, Uberlândia, MG, Brasil.

3Laboratório de Anatomia Funcional aplicada à Clínica e Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina – FAMED, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia – UFU, Uberlândia, MG, Brasil.


 

Received Sept 16, 2025

Corrected Nov 5, 2025

Accepted Dec 10, 2025


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