lobotomy

A lobotomy is a psychosurgical procedure that involves severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex. Historically, it was performed to treat mental disorders that were not responsive to other available treatments. The procedure was popularized by neurologist Egas Moniz in the 1930s, who believed it could alleviate symptoms of conditions like schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Walter Freeman, an American psychiatrist, later developed a less invasive technique known as the transorbital lobotomy, which could be performed with an ice pick.

Lobotomies were performed on thousands of individuals, including men, women, and children, across various institutions. While some patients reportedly showed improvements in agitation or distress, many experienced significant and irreversible side effects. These could include personality changes, emotional blunting, apathy, loss of initiative, cognitive deficits, and even death. The procedure was controversial even during its peak usage, with many questioning its efficacy and ethical implications.

The widespread use of lobotomy declined sharply in the mid-1950s with the advent of effective antipsychotic medications. These drugs offered a less invasive and often more beneficial treatment for many mental illnesses. Furthermore, growing awareness of the severe side effects and the development of more nuanced understandings of brain function led to a widespread reevaluation and eventual abandonment of the procedure. Today, lobotomy is considered an archaic and ethically problematic medical intervention.