Psychosurgery Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The modern age of psychosurgery can be said to have started with Moniz and Lima. Freeman and Watts subsequently revised and popularised the lobotomy procedure. Moniz shared the 1949 Nobel Prize for medicine or physiology for his discovery... more

The modern age of psychosurgery can be said to have started with Moniz and Lima. Freeman and Watts subsequently revised and popularised the lobotomy procedure. Moniz shared the 1949 Nobel Prize for medicine or physiology for his discovery of the therapeutic value of leucotomy in certain psychoses, which accelerated the worldwide popularisation of lobotomy, particularly during the years from 1948 to 1953. In Turkey, psychosurgical interventions were first performed in the early 1950s, and were applied in almost 400 cases. These operations gradually ceased after the discovery and worldwide clinic applications of a modern antipsychotic drug named Chlorpromazine in 1950s, paralleling a similar trend in other countries. Our paper reviews the clinical, psychometric and histopathological results of psychosurgery performed in Turkey in the 1950s.

This study analyzed the content of popular press articles on lobotomy between the years 1935 and 1960. Both a qualitative and quantitative analysis provided evidence that the press initially used uncritical and sensational reporting... more

This study analyzed the content of popular press articles on lobotomy between the years 1935 and 1960. Both a qualitative and quantitative analysis provided evidence that the press initially used uncritical and sensational reporting styles, with the content of articles on lobotomy becoming increasingly negative through time. The initial positive bias occurred despite opposing views in the medical community, which provided a basis for more balanced coverage. These findings support the theory that biased reporting in popular press articles may have been a factor influencing the quick and widespread adoption of lobotomy as a psychiatric treatment.

As we contemplate the emerging era of neuromodulation and imagine the utility of deep brain stimulation for disease entities in neurology and psychiatry, our enthusiasm is immediately tempered by history. Just a generation ago, other... more

As we contemplate the emerging era of neuromodulation and imagine the utility of deep brain stimulation for disease entities in neurology and psychiatry, our enthusiasm is immediately tempered by history. Just a generation ago, other confident investigators were heralding invasive somatic therapies like prefrontal lobotomy to treat psychiatric illness. That era of psychosurgery ended with widespread condemnation, congressional calls for a ban, and avow that history should never repeat itself. Now, just 30 years later, neurologists, neurosurgeons, and psychiatrists are implanting deep brain stimulators for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and contemplating their use for severe psychiatric illnesses, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and the modulation of consciousness in traumatic brain injury.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical procedure involving the implantation of electrodes in the brain, has rekindled the medical community's interest in psychosurgery. Whereas many researchers argue DBS is substantially different from... more

Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical procedure involving the implantation of electrodes in the brain, has rekindled the medical community's interest in psychosurgery. Whereas many researchers argue DBS is substantially different from psychosurgery, we argue psychiatric DBS—though a much more precise and refined treatment than its predecessors—is nevertheless a form of psychosurgery, which raises both old and new ethical and legal concerns that have not been given proper attention. Learning from the ethical and regulatory failures of older forms of psychosurgery can help shed light on how to address the regulatory gaps that exist currently in DBS research. To show why it is important to address the current regulatory gaps within psychiatric DBS, we draw on the motivations underlying the regulation of earlier forms of psychosurgery in the US. We begin by providing a brief history of psychosurgery and electrical brain stimulation in the US. Against this backdrop, we introduce psychiatric DBS, exploring current research and ongoing clinical trials. We then draw out the ethical and regulatory similarities between earlier forms of psychosurgery and psychiatric DBS. As we will show, the factors that motivated strict regulation of earlier psychosurgical procedures mirror concerns with psychiatric DBS today. We offer three recommendations for psychiatric DBS regulation, which echo earlier motivations for regulating

Epilepsy is a common term for different syndromes and diseases, which are all characterized by repeated unprovoked epileptic seizures. Large variations in seizure types, severity and presence of co-morbidity necessitate very diverse... more

Epilepsy is a common term for different syndromes and diseases, which are all characterized by repeated unprovoked epileptic seizures. Large variations in seizure types, severity and presence of co-morbidity necessitate very diverse rehabilitation efforts. Based on a literature review and the authors' own clinical experience, the rehabilitation approach to epilepsy is discussed. Epilepsy is a complex medical disorder and the rehabilitation process must address many aspects. Although 2/3 of patients achieve a satisfactory seizure control with current antiepileptic drugs, they may still have considerable epilepsy-related problems, such as drug-related side effects or psychosocial difficulties. The remaining 1/3 who continue to have seizures, need regular specialist follow-up, as well as multidisciplinary evaluations to ensure comprehensive, individually tailored rehabilitation programmes. The aim of the rehabilitation is to eliminate or reduce the medical and social consequences o...

Functional neurological disorders (FND) have been a challenge to treat both for neurologists and neurosurgeons. Various ablative as well as non-ablative techniques have been used to treat these disorders. Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS)... more

Functional neurological disorders (FND) have been a challenge to treat both for neurologists and neurosurgeons. Various ablative as well as non-ablative techniques have been used to treat these disorders. Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is also being practised to treat refractory obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD). The subsequent complications of GKRS reported have been variable, with headache being the most common. We discuss here a rare complication of 'late onset radiation necrosis in bilateral caudate nuclei' in a patient after receiving GKRS three years back. This case highlights the need to be more cautious before administering ablative procedures in patients suffering with functional disorders.

1. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2007 Feb 1;127(3):309-12. [Epilepsy and rehabilitation]. [Article in Norwegian]. Nakken KO, Brodtkorb E, Koht J. Spesialsykehuset for epilepsi i Sandvika og Nevroklinikken, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet, 0027... more

1. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2007 Feb 1;127(3):309-12. [Epilepsy and rehabilitation]. [Article in Norwegian]. Nakken KO, Brodtkorb E, Koht J. Spesialsykehuset for epilepsi i Sandvika og Nevroklinikken, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet, 0027 Oslo. karl.otto.nakken@epilepsy.no. ...

The increasing prevalence and gloomy socio-economic consequence of spine injury remain a concern in modern medicine. In this article, we highlight the infamous gunshot spinal injuries of a few eminent personalities across multiple... more

The increasing prevalence and gloomy socio-economic consequence of spine injury remain a concern in modern medicine. In this article, we highlight the infamous gunshot spinal injuries of a few eminent personalities across multiple centuries and their socio-political impact in context with the evolution of modern medicine. The role of available medicine in these victims was not more than a mere watcher, thus substantiating an infamous quote from ancient literature which describes spine injury as "an ailment not to be treated".

Introduction Major depressive disorder is one of the most disabling and common diagnoses amongst psychiatric disorders, with a current worldwide prevalence of 5–10% of the general population and up to 20–25% for the lifetime period.... more

Introduction Major depressive disorder is one of the most disabling and common diagnoses amongst psychiatric disorders, with a current worldwide prevalence of 5–10% of the general population and up to 20–25% for the lifetime period. Historical perspective Nowadays, conventional treatment includes psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy; however, more than 60% of the treated patients respond unsatisfactorily, and almost one fifth becomes refractory to these therapies at long-term follow-up. Nonpharmacological techniques Growing social incapacity and economic burdens make the medical community strive for better therapies, with fewer complications. Various nonpharmacological techniques like electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, lesion surgery, and deep brain stimulation have been developed for this purpose. Discussion We reviewed the literature from the beginning of the twentieth century until July 2009 and described the early clinical effects and main reported complications of these methods.