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Journal of Mental Science (1950) 96: 633-662. doi: 10.1192/bjp.96.404.633
© 1950 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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A Follow-Up Investigation of 330 Cases Treated by Prefrontal Leucotomy*

E. Stengel, M.D., Reader in Psychiatry in the University of London; Hon. Physician, the Bethlem Royal and the Maudsley Hospital; late Director of Clinical Research, Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester

* A preliminary report of the results of this investigation was given at the International Conference for Psychosurgery at Lisbon in July, 1948. Stengel, E., and Carse, J. (1948), Act. Luso-Espan. Neur. Psiquiat., 7, 312.

ABSTRACT

The results of a follow-up investigation of 330 cases treated with pre-frontal leucotomy are reported.

The types of cases in which the mental disorder took a favourable course following the operation are discussed.

Modifications of affective reaction types following leucotomy are described. The effect of the operation on recurrence and periodicity is discussed.

The emergence and aggravation of antisocial personality features following leucotomy in patients with affective reaction types has been found to depend not only on the previous personality, but also on certain features of the mental disorder. Such changes have been observed especially in those patients who had, in the course of their depressions, shown aggressive tendencies directed against the environment and who had manic periods.

The occurrence and frequency of post-leucotomy epileptic manifestations has been studied. In the material surveyed, epileptic fits had occurred in a higher percentage of male than of female patients. A considerably higher percentage of schizophrenic and paranoid patients had epileptic fits than of patients with affective reaction types. The possible significance of this discrepancy is discussed.

Among the causes of death from intercurrent conditions, coma treatment and tuberculosis have been specially commented on.

Received for publication January 30, 1950.




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Copyright © 1950 The Royal College of Psychiatrists.