Prof. P.R. Schuurman PhD

Prof. PhD P.R. Schuurman

Position

Full Professor

Main activities

Patient care, Research

Specialisation

functional neurosurgery

Focus of research

My research focuses on the development and application of deep brain stimulation (DBS), in collaboration with the departments of neurology (R.M.A. de Bie) and psychiatry (D. Denys). I was principal investigator of the clinical trial that demonstrated the efficacy of DBS for tremor and its superiority over lesioning techniques, which led to the endorsement of DBS by the Dutch health authorities and contributed to the acceptance of the application of DBS worldwide. Our team has since worked on various clinical trials studying the effects of DBS in different areas of the brain in patients with Parkinson's disease, dystonia and obsessive compulsive disorder. Recently, we started with the application of DBS in intractable epilepsy.

Future research will focus on both clinical and technical aspects of the application of DBS: Further improvement of surgical technique, with emphasis on the potential scientific benefit of micro-electrode recordings during surgery and improving image-guided electrode implantation. Assessing the long-term effects of DBS in movement disorders, for which the experience is currently limited to roughly 10 years of individual patient follow-up. Defining new indications and limitations of the application of DBS, taking into account emerging pathophysiological knowledge, clinical, ethical and economical aspects of the treatment. Developing new advanced methods for applying DBS by designing new equipment and stimulation paradigms, in collaboration with medical industry. Application of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in psychiatric disorders, in particular obsessive compulsive disorder and major mood disorder. Focus will be on both clinical efficacy and fundamental aspects of the changes of cerebral functioning induced by electrical stimulation of various targets in the brain.

Amsterdam UMC Research Institutes

AMC departments

Neurosurgery

Key publications

Contarino M. Fiorella, Bour Lo J., Verhagen Rens, Lourens Marcel A. J., de Bie Rob M. A., van den Munckhof Pepijn, Schuurman P. R. Directional steering: A novel approach to deep brain stimulation Neurology 2014;83 (13):1163-1169 [PubMed]
Denys Damiaan, Mantione Mariska, Figee Martijn, van den Munckhof Pepijn, Koerselman Frank, Westenberg Herman, Bosch Andries, Schuurman Rick Deep Brain Stimulation of the Nucleus Accumbens for Treatment-Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Archives of general psychiatry 2010;67 (10):1061-1068 [PubMed]
Odekerken Vincent J. J., van Laar Teus, Staal Michiel J., Mosch Arne, Hoffmann Carel F. E., Nijssen Peter C. G., Beute Guus N., van Vugt Jeroen P. P., Lenders Mathieu W. P. M., Contarino M. Fiorella, Mink Marieke S. J., Bour Lo J., van den Munckhof Pepijn, Schmand Ben A., de Haan Rob J., Schuurman P. Richard, de Bie Rob M. A. Subthalamic nucleus versus globus pallidus bilateral deep brain stimulation for advanced Parkinson's disease (NSTAPS study): a randomised controlled trial Lancet neurology 2013;12 (1):37-44 [PubMed]
van den Munckhof Pepijn, Contarino M. Fiorella, Bour Lo J., Speelman Johannes D., de Bie Rob M. A., Schuurman P. Richard Postoperative curving and upward displacement of deep brain stimulation electrodes caused by brain shift Neurosurgery 2010;67 (1):49-53; discussion 53-4 [PubMed]
Smeding Harriet M. M., Speelman Johannes D., Huizenga Hilde M., Schuurman P. Richard, Schmand Ben Predictors of cognitive and psychosocial outcome after STN DBS in Parkinson's Disease Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry 2011;82 (7):754-760 [PubMed]