BIOLOGICAL Therapy - Psychosurgery

Question 1

Psychosurgery

Answer 1

A surgical procedure for treating mentally disordered behavior by removing or destroying part of the brain to eradicate undesirable behaviors.

Question 2

Psychosurgery and the Assumptions

Answer 2

1. Localisation of brain functions: Certain areas of the brain are responsible for specific functions.
2. Neurotransmitters: Psychosurgery affects neurotransmitter activity long-term by stimulating or damaging specific brain areas.

Question 3

Aim of Psychosurgery

Answer 3

To relieve stress, anxiety, and depression in patients who have not responded to any other treatments.

Question 4

Early Psychosurgery - Egas Moniz

Answer 4

In 1935, Moniz proposed that removing the frontal lobes would reduce aggression and distress, leading to a Nobel Prize in 1949.

Question 5

Early Psychosurgery - Walter Freeman

Answer 5

Freeman popularized the transorbital lobotomy in the 1940s and 1950s, performing over 2,500 lobotomies in the US. The procedure fell out of favor after side effects emerged

Question 6

Prefrontal Leucotomy

Answer 6

A procedure where a hole was drilled in the skull to insert an instrument that destroyed nerve fibers in the frontal lobe to alleviate distressing thoughts.

Question 7

Transorbital Lobotomy

Answer 7

A procedure involving the insertion of a sharp instrument through the eye socket to damage the frontal lobe, aimed at reducing aggressive behavior.

Question 8

Stereotactic Psychosurgery

Answer 8

A precise method of treating mental disorders, including techniques like Bilateral Cingulotomy, Capsulotomy, and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).

Question 9

Bilateral Cingulotomy

Answer 9

A procedure where tissue is burned away using an electrode or a non-invasive tool like a gamma knife to treat mental disorders.

Question 10

Capsulotomy

Answer 10

A procedure where probes are inserted into the brain near the hypothalamus and tissue is burned to treat mental disorders.

Question 11

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Answer 11

A procedure where wires are inserted into the brain and connected to a battery pack, delivering high-frequency currents to interrupt brain circuits without tissue destruction

Question 12

Early Psychosurgery Evaluation

Answer 12

Despite claims of success, early psychosurgery, such as lobotomies, led to severe side effects like personality changes, apathy, and even death in 6% of cases.

Question 13

Modern Psychosurgery - Cingulotomies

Answer 13

Studies showed that cingulotomies were effective in 56% of OCD patients, and capsulotomies in 67%.

Question 14

Ethical Issues in Psychosurgery

Answer 14

Ethical concerns include non-consensual lobotomies, with patients undergoing surgery against their will, and the long-term, irreversible side effects of procedures like memory loss and emotional blunting.