LOBOTOMY Meaning and
Definition
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Lobotomy is a medical procedure that involves the surgical severing or removal of selected nerve pathways within the brain, particularly in the frontal lobe. It was a treatment method developed during the mid-20th century and primarily used to alleviate various mental disorders, particularly severe psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and major depression.
Typically conducted under general anesthesia, lobotomy is performed by inserting a specialized cutting instrument or probe through small holes in the skull, usually above the eyebrows or behind the ear. The instrument is then used to separate or damage the nerve fibers connecting the prefrontal cortex with deeper brain regions. This disruption aims to modify or regulate the patient's emotional or behavioral responses, consequently reducing symptoms associated with mental illness.
While some early practitioners believed lobotomy to be an effective approach to treating psychiatric conditions, the procedure is controversial and its use has significantly declined. This is primarily due to its many negative side effects and questionable ethical implications. Patients who undergo lobotomy often experiences a range of severe, irreversible adverse effects, including personality changes, cognitive deficits, decreased emotional responsiveness, and an overall reduction in mental faculties. As a result, lobotomy is now considered an outdated and risky treatment option, with alternative therapies and medications being favored in modern psychiatry.
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Etymology of LOBOTOMY
The word "lobotomy" is derived from the Greek words "lobos", meaning "lobe", and "tomē", meaning "cutting" or "incision". The term was coined by the Portuguese neurologist António Egas Moniz in the early 20th century, who developed the lobotomy procedure along with his colleague Almeida Lima. The procedure involved severing connections to and from the prefrontal cortex of the brain, and the term "lobotomy" was used to describe this surgical technique.
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