Zalashik, R., & Davidovitch, N. (2006). Last resort? lobotomy operations in israel, 1946-60. History of Psychiatry, 17(1), 91-106. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0957154X06058593

Reference

Lobotomies rose to fame on account for the few number of solutions to mental illness and the high number of patients there were. It was a very quick solution for doctors and had very few evidence to support it, but also very few evidence to debunk it at the time. 

Butler University

It is the surgical separation of the parts of the frontal lobes from the rest of the brain. Even though there was no scientific evidence behind this treatment, few recoveries made it seem like this was helping patients with schizophrenia. 
An image of the same is attached below: 

Lobotomy: Earliest Treatment of Schizophrenia 

Gretchen J. Diefenbach, Donald Diefenbach, Alan Baumeister & Mark West (1999) Portrayal of Lobotomy in the Popular Press: 1935-1960, Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 8:1, 60-69, DOI: 10.1076/jhin.8.1.60.1766

Many articles were written when the first case of a lobotomy was performed. After hearing about it being a "cure" to mental illness, many people rushed to try to get the surgery for their loved ones. It was seen as a scapegoat for "irrational behavior" and the perfect "fix" for "madness." It was publicized in magazines, radios, television, and more.

Media Portrayal of Lobotomies in 1935-1960

How Lobotomies Gained Popularity

The Lobotomy procedure was created by the Portuguese Neurologist, Egas Moniz. He concluded that by splitting the fibers of the brain by the separate lobes, there will be a reduction in irrational behavior from the patient. He later went on to win a Nobel Peace Prize for his work, even though there was lack of evidence to support his surgery. His idea steamed from research of a decrease in neurosis in chimpanzees when splitting the frontal cortex from the rest of the brain.

The Invention of the Lobotomy

Oftentimes, lobotomies were performed on people experiencing neurosis and it was used for treating  Schizophrenia patients and patients of depression with suicidal ideations. After the surgery, it was reported that they were much calmer and relaxed. This was also true for when lobotomies were used to treat chronic pain. The patients felt "indifferent" to the pain after the surgery was performed. Many reported a loss of creativity and a change in personality. There might have been a decrease in symptoms, but also a decrease in other important aspects that made the patient and  individual. 

Lobotomy Results

Many different tools were used to complete this surgery. The Leukotome (pictured) was used for the more classical procedure. Other methods included using a needle 3-6 times a day and inserting it to disturb the white matter. Another method was using Iridium in the brain for a fast and "effective" procedure. 

Surgical Techniques for Lobotomy

A woman named Sarah Simpson was found guilty of attempted murder after trying to kill a school teacher with the delusion that she was “trying to persecute her.” She was declared “not sound of mind” and was sent to a mental hospital. She then received a lobotomy from Dr. Angelucci in 1952. She was then considered “of sound mind” and was brought back into society because of this procedure. 

Case Study of Lobotomy

- Bimedial lobotomy: medial half of the frontothalamus radiations is cut.
- Transorbital lobotomy: frontothalamic fibres are cut by a leukotome that is put supra-orbitally in frontal lobes.
- Cortical undercutting of orbital-medial regions of frontal lobes.
- Ultrasonic lobotomy- ultra-sonic waves destroy fibres of the thalamofrontal radiation.
- Topectomy- ablation of selected parts of frontal lobe cortex
- Cingulectomy- anterior part of the cingulate gyrus is removed by subpial suction.
- Thalamotomy- frontothalamic connections are cut at the level of the thalamus by electrocoagulation using stereotaxic techniques.


Types of Lobotomies

A 1967 study followed 133 patients who received lobotomies between 1948 and 1952 to evaluate their long-term outcomes. By the time of the follow-up in 1962 and 1963, 17 patients had passed away, leaving 116 patients to be assessed.

1967 Follow-Up Study of Lobotomy Patients

Dr. Freeman's original lobotomy technique used an icepick-like instrument inserted to separate the cortex, moved with a stirring motion to sever connections. Performed under anesthesia, the procedure took only about 10 minutes. Freeman's first procedure using this icepick technique was reportedly performed on his own wife; she was left with no suicidal tendencies but also became a thoughtless person afterward.

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