Historical Context of Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery refers to surgical procedures aimed at treating mental health disorders, historically gaining attention in the mid-20th century. It emerged during a time when psychiatric treatments were limited, and some practitioners sought to modify brain function to alleviate severe conditions like depression, schizophrenia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. The most infamous form, the lobotomy, involved damaging parts of the brain’s frontal lobes and often resulted in significant changes in personality and cognition. Over time, psychosurgery fell out of favor due to ethical concerns, variable outcomes, and the development of more effective, less invasive treatments like medications and psychotherapy.