Therapies - Psychosurgery

Question 1

What is the psychodynamic approach’s therapy?

Answer 1

Psychosurgery

Question 2

What is the aim of psychosurgery?

Answer 2

To eradicate undesirable behaviour

Question 3

What are the main components of Psychosurgery?

Answer 3

Pre-frontal leucotomy
Transorbital lobotomy
Bilateral Cingulotomy
Deep Brain Stimulation

Question 4

Describe this main component of Psychosurgery: “Pre-frontal Leucotomy”

Answer 4

• “Apple Corer” technique
• Holes drilled into temples
• Wire loop inserter, twisted and pulled out of both sides
• Severed nerve fibres in the frontal lobe

Question 5

Describe this main component of Psychosurgery: “Transorbital Lobotomy”

Answer 5

• “Ice Pick technique”
• Orbitoclast pushed through eye socket and tapped to break skull
• Cut through nerve fibres and interrupted connections from frontal lobe to other areas of the brain

Question 6

Describe this main component of Psychosurgery: “Bilateral Cingulotomy”

Answer 6

• MRI scan used to precisely locate the connections in the brain causing the problem
• Under general anaesthetic, gamma knife used to sever these connections and change the patients behaviour

Question 7

Describe this main component of Psychosurgery: “Deep Brain Stimulation”

Answer 7

• Uses wires in the brain connected to a battery pack in the chest, acting as a neurotransmitter
• Batteries produce an adjustable, high frequency current that interrupts the brain circuitry.
• Used to treat OCD, depression and parkinsons.
• Modern alternative to surgery as its reversible.

Question 8

Name the first effectiveness point for Psychosurgery

Answer 8

• Initial reports were enthusiastic but consequences were downplayed
• 6% fatality rate in early cases

Question 9

Name the second effectiveness point for Psychosurgery

Answer 9

• Patients left with permanent side effects
• Rosemary Kennedy wasn’t told of all the risks and was institutionalised for the rest of her life
• She also couldn’t speak intelligently

Question 10

Name the third effectiveness point for Psychosurgery

Answer 10

• Ballatine et al: 62% of patients with OCD showed notable improvements after a Bilateral Cingulotmy
• However, Mary lou Zimmerman’s BC led to dementia and became mute

Question 11

Name the fourth effectiveness point for Psychosurgery

Answer 11

• Mayberg et al [2006]: 4 in 6 patients showed improvement after a Deep Brain Stimulation
• Majority showed positive reviews

Question 12

Name the first ethics point for Psychosurgery

Answer 12

• Unethical because the damage is irreversible
• Severe side effects especially from early psychosurgeries e.g memory issues or an unnatural tranquility

Question 13

Name the second ethics point for Psychosurgery

Answer 13

• Informed consent is always given for modern Psychosurgery
• Mental Health Act of 1983: informed consent must be given in order for a person to be given the surgery
• Responsible adult or patient

Question 14

Name the third ethics point for Psychosurgery

Answer 14

• Modern forms of psychosurgery have a reduced risk of damage to the brain
• B.C have mri scans to precisely locate the issues in the brain
• Reduced risk of permanent harm

Question 15

Which assumptions from the Biological approach link to Psychosurgery

Answer 15

• Localisation of brain function

Question 16

How does ‘Localisation of brain function’ link to Psychosurgery?

Answer 16

• Believe that that the illness has a physical cause and therefore needs a physical treatment
• Aka physically removing parts of the brain
• Psychological behaviours can be changed by making physical changes to a specific part of the brain