OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring negative thoughts or uncontrollable desire to perform repetitive behaviors such as hand washing or cleaning.

 

“These are obtrusive thoughts that take control of people's lives to the point that they lose their jobs, can't have relationships and in many cases, can't even leave their homes,” said Dr. Hooman Azmi of Hackensack University Medical Center.

 

About 2.2 million Americans have the disorder, but not all of them will benefit from the new device. Only those not responding to medication, such as antidepressant drugs and therapy, will receive the device.

 

However, Dr. Daniel Schultz said in a statement patients should not expect to be completely cured once they receive Reclaim.

 

“Reclaim is not a cure. Individual results will vary and patients implanted with the device are likely to continue to have some mild to moderate impairment,” he said.

 

FDA approval is based on a clinical study of 26 patients at three US medical centers. Some of them suffered serious side effects but they all got resolved without lasting damage. The procedure carries a risk of life-threatening cerebral hemorrhage and brain infection.

 

Medtronic, the leading player in the so-called neuromodulation market, is now testing Reclaim in patients with extremely severe depression.