Psychosurgery Flashcards
What is the aim of psychosurgery?
To treat mental health in the same way as physical health (medical model)
To identify the areas of the brain leading to the symptoms of the disorder and remove/damage it, with an aim to reduce symptoms and help the patient live a more functional life
Who developed the prefrontal leucotomy?
Egas Moniz (1930’s)
What is the process of a prefrontal leucotomy?
-Two holes are drilled at each side of the skull
- A leucotome (wire with a looped end) was then inserted into the frontal lobe
- The leucotome is rotated to sever the nerve fibres connecting the frontal lobe to the rest of the brain
What is the process of a transorbital lobotomy?
-The patient would be knocked unconscious using electroconvulsive shock therapy
- An ice-pick (Orbitoclast) would be inserted under the eyelid of the patient, towards the back of the eye socket
- This would then break through the skull (it’s at it’s thinnest behind the eye) and into the frontal lobe of the brain
- The Orbitoclast is moved around to sever the connections between the frontal lobe and other brain areas
-This would be done through both eyes to ‘treat’ both hemispheres
What is the process of a bilateral cingulotomy?
-MRI scans are used to locate the area of the brain to be targeted and to help guide the surgical instruments to the precise location
- A gamma knife is used to focus beams of radiation to the target site and damage the area/nerves
-Often used to treat OCD - damage the circuit between the thalamus and occipital lobe
What is the process of DBS?
- DBS involves implanting electrodes into the area of the brain believed to be causing the symptoms of the disorder
- MRI/CT scans will be used to locate the target brain area
- The electrodes, once implanted, will be connected to a neurostimulator located near the clavicle of the patient
- This will provide small electrical impulses to the desired brain area
