MGH Psychiatric Neurosurgery Committee

The Psychiatric Neurosurgery Committee (PNC) at the Massachusetts General Hospital is an interdisciplinary team of dedicated clinicians caring for patients with severe psychiatric illness who have not improved with first- and second-line treatments, including medications, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Committee leadership comprises experts in psychiatry and neurosurgery who together critically evaluate whether neurosurgical interventions are warranted for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and Tourette’s Syndrome.

For more than 60 years, the PNC has offered a range of cutting-edge neurosurgical options for treatment-refractory psychiatric disease. These include device-based interventions such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and responsive neurostimulation (RNS), as well as ablative procedures such as cingulotomy and capsulotomy.

The PNC also maintains a longstanding commitment to advancing the field through research. We are involved in pivotal clinical trials of VNS and DBS, and our highly skilled research team examines how patient outcomes relate to neurosurgical interventions. The Brain Modulation Lab is leading studies of predictive electrophysiological biomarkers with the goal of developing next-generation neuromodulation techniques to personalize therapeutic options for each patient. Our shared vision is that medicine and science go hand in hand, and that rigorous clinical research improves patient outcomes and restores quality of life.

If you are interested in learning more about the PNC or the clinical care we offer, please contact our office at 617-726-3407. Alternatively, you may contact us via email at mghpnc@mgb.org. We are here to guide you through the process and ensure that you receive comprehensive, compassionate care.