Contents:
- Medical Video: Worst Psychiatric Treatments Throughout History
- What is lobotomy?
- How is the lobotomy procedure performed?
- Lobotomy is a dangerous procedure that does not help the patient
- Handling of mental disorders in modern times
Medical Video: Worst Psychiatric Treatments Throughout History
In the past, science and research around psychiatric disorders have not been as adequate as it is today. As a result, the handling of people with mental disorders (ODGJ) tends to be arbitrary and can be said to be sadistic. One of them is a lobotomy or leucotomy procedure. Lobotomy is a horrific brain surgery from the mid 20th century that is no longer practiced today. What are the procedures like and what are the results? See below, yes!
What is lobotomy?
Lobotomy is a brain surgery for psychiatric patients such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The originator was a neurologist from Portugal named António Egas Moniz. This procedure was later developed by neurosurgeons around the world, including Walter Freeman from the United States. Lobotomy was rampant sprung from 1935 to the 1980s.
The purpose of doing lobotomy is to "calm" a psychiatric patient by damaging or cutting brain tissue in the prefrontal lobe, located on the front. The reason is that a mental disorder was allegedly caused by someone's excessive emotions and reactions. So, cutting off the tissues of the brain's prefrontal lobe is expected to be able to eliminate these "excess" emotions and reactions. That way, the patient becomes calmer and easier to control.
How is the lobotomy procedure performed?
At the start of the application of lobotomy, the patient's skull on the front will be punched. From the hole, the doctor injects ethanol liquid to destroy the fibers in the prefrontal lobe. These fibers that connect the prefrontal lobe with other parts of the brain.
Then, this procedure is updated by damaging the front of the brain with iron wire. This wire is also inserted through a hole from the skull.
As if the two methods were not sadistic enough, Walter Freeman created a new method that was more controversial. Without punching holes in the skull, Walter will slice the front of the brain with a special tool such as a screwdriver with a very pointed iron tip. This tool is inserted through the patient's eye cavity. The patient is not sedated with medication, but is stung by a special electric wave so that the patient is unconscious.
Lobotomy is a dangerous procedure that does not help the patient
The practice of the lobotomy was initially considered successful because the patient did become calmer. However, being calm here actually means being paralyzed, both mentally and physically. Recorded by a neurologist and psychologist Dr. John B. Dynes, the victims of lobotomy show symptoms like an undead. They lose their ability to speak, coordinate, think, and feel emotions.
It is easier for families to take care of patients because they are no longer explosive. However, the patient's mental state did not improve. Reports from the family state that everyday patients can only stare blankly in the distance. In the end the patient must even be hospitalized in a mental hospital for life because they cannot do activities like normal people, for example eating and working.
Naturally, this is because their prefrontal lobes have been damaged in such a way. The prefrontal lobe is responsible for carrying out executive functions of the brain. For example making decisions, acting, making plans, socializing with others, showing expression and emotion, and controlling yourself.
In many other cases, patients die after lobotomy surgery. The reason is severe brain bleeding.
Handling of mental disorders in modern times
In the late 1980s, the lobotomy procedure was finally terminated and prohibited from being practiced. In addition, in 1950 treatment of mental disorders with drugs began to be developed. This new treatment finally managed to shift the sadistic lobotomy practice.
Today, the treatment offered for ODGJ is antidepressant or antipsychotic drugs, counseling therapy, or a combination of both. Although until now there is no drug or instant procedure that can cure mental disorders, modern medicine is now far more effective in controlling symptoms of mental disorders while improving the quality of life for ODGJ.
