FIVE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS SUBJECTED TO THREE DIFFERENT LOBOTOMY PROCEDURES

Abstract

• The effects of three types of lobotomy were studied in 116 patients five years after operation. The bimedial procedure, done in 35 patients, was thus compared with the bilateral and unilateral procedures, done in 39 and 42 patients respectively. The bimedial procedure gave the best results, in that 54% of these patients were working full time and productively five years after operation. The corresponding figures for the bilateral and unilateral groups were 33% and 29%. These results were striking, since these were all patients whose mental illness had been unremitting for at least 2 1/2 years before surgery and had been refractory to insulin coma, electric shock treatment, and intensive psychotherapy.