In the early 1800s, when minds caused mental strain, a harrowing tale left a haunting stain. In hopes for healing, a surgical experiment was taking place where tiny pieces of the brain were considered as the cure, it was a fright in sight. Patients were left with a void of emotions, devoid of their dreams and light, after years in the 1900s a Portuguese neurologist named António Egas Moniz, introduced a specific technique ‘lobotomy,’ drilling holes into skulls and alternating the brain’s structure. Despite being endorsed by a select few doctors, it lacked scientific consensus, leading to its controversial status within the medical community.
Patients subjected to this often-experienced devastating consequences. The surgery, carried out without proper informed consent in many cases, resulted in severe alterations to their emotions and cognition. The outcome left individuals lacking their essential characteristics, leading to the disappearance of their former identities. Shockingly, statistics reveal that a significant portion of those who underwent lobotomies were 60% women. Moreover, they were diagnosed with symptoms of "schizophrenia," a multifaceted psychiatric condition that includes depression, insomnia, suicidal dilutions, homosexual tendencies, nervous indigestion, hysterical paralysis, and chronic headaches. Typically surfacing in one's 20’s and often associated with genetic predispositions, schizophrenia's pathophysiology remains cryptic, although exceptions within this age range exist. Discordant theories exist about this issue, some prioritize early brain developmental anomalies and others propose progressive brain degeneration as critical factors in the disorder's onset. Neuroimaging studies have unveiled potential disruptions in early brain development, depicting the brain as vulnerable to subsequent alterations, notably accelerated gray matter loss in specific brain regions. These deviations, coupled with stress and substance use, are believed to perpetuate ongoing changes during the active phase of this illness. However, the precise dominance of either developmental anomalies or a blend of both developmental and degenerative processes remains debated among the researchers. Understanding schizophrenia is complex; recent brain imaging reveals widespread irregularities, exploring further is crucial for better treatments, to address underlying causes for improved therapy.
Those with a mental health issue were mostly exiled or hidden away from society in the past, leading to the isolation and confinement of individuals seeking help. The broadening of diagnoses resulted in individuals with diverse mental health issues being subjected to this disturbing procedure. The tragic story of Rosemary Kennedy stands as a reminder of the negative impact of it, her vibrant personality was changed due to this procedure. The scope of it extended beyond human subjects, consisting of animals and individuals identified as gay, emphasizing the extent of misguided interventions in addressing mental distress.
It went on rapidly during the 40’s and 50’s, victims, often marginalized, faced its discredit. Yet, their stories reveal human resilience. “We are all victims of what is done to us. We can either use that as an excuse for failure, or we can say, ‘I want something better than that, I deserve something better than that, and now I’m going to try to make myself a life worth living.’” (Dully, H., 2007), a survivor, said in his words.
The legacy of ‘lobotomy’ served as a cautionary in medical history, reflecting a time where ethical considerations were disregarded in favor of experimental treatments. It also reminds us of how highly the field of mental health is regarded in our generation, highlighting teamwork's role in societal shifts.
This work was originally written on 12/22/2023.
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