leucotomy

Leucotomy, also known as lobotomy, is a surgical procedure historically used to treat severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and depression. It involves cutting or damaging specific parts of the brain's prefrontal cortex to alter emotional and behavioral responses. The goal was to reduce symptoms that weren't manageable with medication or therapy. However, due to significant side effects and ethical concerns, it has largely been discontinued, replaced by more advanced and humane treatments. Today, leucotomy is considered a historical procedure, and modern psychiatry prefers less invasive, evidence-based approaches to mental health care.