["Psychosurgery" and deep brain stimulation with psychiatric indication. Current and historical aspects]
M Arends1, H Fangerau, G Winterer
1Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Bergische Landstrasse 2, 40629, Düsseldorf. mareke.arends@lvr.de
Der Nervenarzt
|May 21, 2009
Abstract:
Deep brain stimulation is a novel and reversible surgical intervention in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Recent studies in small samples of patients with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder have come up with promising results. Neurosurgical interventions in psychiatric patients raise ethical questions in the context of historical experiences with traditional and irreversible psychosurgical procedures that need to be discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Psychosurgery
Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...


