The British Journal of Psychiatry 144: 293-297 (1984)
© 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists' attitudes to psychosurgery. Proposals for the organization of a psychosurgical service in Yorkshire
RP Snaith, DJ Price and JF Wright
A survey of attitudes to psychosurgery among consultant psychiatrists in
two regions of Britain was undertaken by a postal questionnaire. Most
psychiatrists considered that there is still a role for psychosurgery in
psychiatric practice and over 75 per cent of psychiatrists working in
general adult psychiatry requested facilities for the referral of patients;
the majority of those requesting preferred local facilities and thought
that the psychosurgical team should carry out both the assessment and
postoperative rehabilitation. Respondents to the questionnaire were
conservative in their indications for considering psychosurgery. The effect
that the revision of the Mental Health Act might have on psychosurgical
practice was then considered and finally the organization of the authors'
own practice is described.
