The history of psychosurgery

Egas Moniz received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1949 for his discovery and popularization of the prefrontal lobotomy. This radical surgery was the product of the progression in our understanding of mental illness, the prevailing attitudes of the times, and the professional rivalry between psychiatrists and neurologists. The prefrontal lobotomy and its modifications, later to be referred to collectively as psychosurgery, offered hope to the mental illness that were previously thought to be incurable. Fueled by "miracle stories" from the popular press, this surgery was performed until the late 1960S. The following article chronicles the early days of psychosurgery, including the factors responsible for its inception and the different techniques used through the years.