Ventral tegmental area deep brain stimulation for trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias: a comprehensive literature review.

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane (inception to December 2024) identified studies on deep brain stimulation (deep brain stimulation) for trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.

A meaningful proportion of patients remain refractory to optimized pharmacotherapy, and neuromodulation has emerged as a promising avenue.

Improvements in mood, anxiety, and quality of life are observed without cognitive impairment.

Compared with hypothalamic deep brain stimulation, ventral tegmental area stimulation offers a broader therapeutic footprint and a more favorable safety profile.