Author: Christophe SCHWOB

Jean Régis WSSFN President Marseille, France Dear Members and Colleagues, It is both an honor and a privilege to introduce myself as the new President of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN). I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me, and I look forward to working closely with all of you to continue advancing our shared mission. One of my primary objectives during my tenure is to continue fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and globally connected community within WSSFN. Our field encompasses many important sub- disciplines, including movement disorder surgery, psychiatric surgery, epilepsy surgery, pain surgery, spasticity surgery, and restorative neurosurgery. Each of these areas is vital to the progress of our profession and the well-being of our patients. As your president, I am committed to ensuring that all these components of our field are well represented and continue to advance through research, clinical practice, and education. Additionally, I want to emphasize the crucial role that young neurosurgeons play in shaping the future of our specialty. It is vital that we provide them with the support and opportunities to grow, learn, and innovate. As part of this commitment, we must also focus on improving access to training and education, especially in countries where these opportunities may be limited or difficult to access. WSSFN has always been a strong advocate for missions of training and education, and I will work to strengthen our efforts in supporting young neurosurgeons through fellowships, mentorship programs, and educational initiatives, particularly in underserved regions. By supporting the next generation of leaders in our field, we ensure that the progress we’ve made continues for years to come. I am also pleased to announce that our next WSSFN Congress will be held in Marseille, France, in September 2026. This congress will provide an invaluable opportunity for all of us to meet, exchange ideas, and collaborate on the future of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. It will also serve as a platform to showcase the diversity of our field and the exciting developments in each subspecialty. I encourage you to participate and engage fully in what will be a dynamic and enriching event for all. Thank you once again for the privilege of serving as your President. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead, and I am confident that together, we can continue to make significant contributions to the field of neurosurgery. Let us work together to ensure that our discipline remains inclusive, innovative, and supportive of all members, particularly the next generation. I look forward to seeing you in Marseille in 2026 and to the exciting future that lies ahead for WSSFN. Warmest regards,

Letter from the President Letter from the Editor Letter from XX World Congress of Stereotactic and Functional NeurosurgeryWSSFN 2024 New chair of the Psychiatric Surgery Task Force Stereotactic Academy Digest Hot Topics in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery SAVE THE DATE: WSSFN 2025 Interim Meeting in Buenos Aires WSSFN Webinars – Thalamic responsive neurostimulation and evolution in SEEG: 07 July 2025 Congress announcements Obituaries †: Tipu Zahed Aziz (1956-2024) Download the latest newsletter

Dear Friends, In 2011, the question of the future of Neurosurgery for Psychiatric Disorders was raised by the WSSFN. A task force was created as a platform for key individuals in Psychiatric Surgery from different continents worldwide, with the aim of exchanging ideas and initiating actions. Bart Nuttin was selected to lead this task force, and he ensured that the correct direction for Neurosurgery in psychiatric disorders was maintained, always keeping the interests of the patient and society in mind. Over the past 14 years, he and the group have achieved a colossal amount of high-quality work, overcoming the numerous obstacles associated with this very special field of Functional Neurosurgery. We are all deeply grateful to Bart for this remarkable accomplishment. It is now time for Bart to hand over the leadership to a new team. After democratic discussions, the WSSFN board has elected Volker Coenen and Matilda Naesström as the new chairs of the Psychiatric Neurosurgery Task Force. Both have been deeply involved in the work of the task force and are recognized worldwide as experts in this domain. One of our major challenges is to increase the global interest of the psychiatric community in surgery, and we love the idea of having a psychiatrist as co-chair alongside Volker. I am confident that they are the right people at the right time. Congratulations to both of you! There is still much work to be done! Jean RegisWSSFN President On 10 February 2025, the Board of Officers of the WSSFN appointed a new chair for the Psychiatric Surgery Task Force of the WSSFN. Volker Coenen from Freiburg (Germany) was chosen to succeed Bart Nuttin from Leuven (Belgium) in this position. After concluding his professional career, Dr. Nuttin had requested to step down from his role as chair. As a new development, a psychiatric co-chair has been appointed to foster closer collaboration between specialties and to promote the acceptance of neurosurgical treatment options within the psychiatric community. This newly created co-chair position was unanimously assigned to Matilda Naesström, a psychiatrist from Umeå (Sweden). The task force was originally founded under the name WSSFN Committee for Neurosurgery for Psychiatric Disorders following the WSSFN Shanghai Interim Meeting in 2011 and was officially announced during the Lisbon Meeting in 2012 under the leadership of Dr. Nuttin. The group had previously convened under Osvaldo Vilela Filho (Goiás, Brazil) since 2009. It was later renamed the Task Force for Neurosurgery for Psychiatric Disorders (now more succinctly referred to as the Psychiatric Surgery Task Force). Dr. Nuttin was appointed as its first chair, and from the outset, consistent psychiatric input has been a key feature. The task force has been actively engaged in advancing neurosurgical treatments for psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depression, and others. Under Dr. Nuttin’s leadership, the task force has played a crucial role in the publication of influential guidelines and scientific papers 2-4. The Psychiatric Surgery Task Force is committed to the development of neurosurgical techniques—including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and lesion-based methods such as Focused Ultrasound and stereotactic radiosurgery—for psychiatric disorders that are resistant to conservative and best-practice medical treatments. Operating within a rigorous scientific and ethical framework, the task force meets quarterly (via web meetings or in person during ESSFN and WSSFN events). All WSSFN members interested in contributing to the development of neurosurgical approaches for psychiatric indications are encouraged to join. Dr. Nuttin’s landmark paper 1 on DBS of the anterior limb of the internal capsule for the treatment of OCD marked the beginning of the modern era of psychiatric surgery. His clinical focus has consistently remained on the advancement of Deep Brain Stimulation for OCD. The WSSFN extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Nuttin for his long-standing, thoughtful, and dedicated service as chair of the task force. Volker A. Coenen, MD (Freiburg, Germany) Incoming chair Matilda Naesström, MD, PhD (Umea, Sweden) Incoming Psychiatric co-chair Bart Nuttin, MD (Leuven, Belgium) Outgoing chair of the task force 2011-2025 References Nuttin, B., Cosyns, P., Demeulemeester, H., Gybels, J. & Meyerson, B. Electrical stimulation in anterior limbs of internal capsules in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Lancet 354, 1526–1 (1999). Nuttin, B. et al. Consensus on guidelines for stereotactic neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders. J. Neurol., Neurosurg. Psychiatry 85, 1003 (2014). Wu, H. et al. Deep brain stimulation for refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): emerging or established therapy? Mol Psychiatr 26, 60–65 (2021). Visser-Vandewalle, V. et al. Deep brain stimulation for obsessive–compulsive disorder: a crisis of access. Nat Med 28, 1529–1532 (2022).