Prof. Atilla YILMAZ, MD treats movement disorders and selected psychiatric and pain conditions with neuromodulation. The largest group is deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, head tremor, dystonia and rarer tremor syndromes. DBS is also used for treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depression, with psychiatric board approval. Neuromodulation for spasticity, chronic pain and pelvic dysfunction is offered with other implanted systems.
Movement disorders
Psychiatric indications
Pain, spasticity and pelvic dysfunction
These conditions are treated with implanted neuromodulation systems other than DBS:
Who is not a candidate
An honest list matters as much as the treatable one. Neuromodulation is generally not appropriate when the diagnosis is uncertain, when a movement disorder has never responded to any treatment in a way that predicts stimulation response, when significant cognitive impairment or untreated severe depression is present, when there is active infection or uncontrolled bleeding risk, or when no local team can provide long-term follow-up and programming. Prof. YILMAZ declines candidates in these situations and says so directly.
Frequently asked questions
Which conditions respond best to deep brain stimulation?
Parkinson's disease with clear levodopa-responsive symptoms but troublesome fluctuations, essential tremor, and dystonia have the strongest evidence base. Head tremor, Holmes tremor and other rare tremor syndromes can respond well but require more individual target planning.
Does DBS cure these conditions?
No. DBS does not cure Parkinson's disease, tremor or dystonia and does not stop underlying disease progression. It controls symptoms, often substantially, for as long as the system is working and correctly programmed.