Sad psychosurgery

Abstract

Reviews the book, The Lobotomy Letters: The Making of American Psychosurgery by Mical Raz. This remarkable book illustrate the importance of examining carefully the history of medicine, especially during those periods in which initial acceptance of an idea eventually ends in controversy. The author deals with some of the effects of lobotomy and their correlation with the concepts of holism and uses the term 'active docility' in examining several aspects of lobotomy, especially the relationship between Freeman and his patients. The original operation notes quoted in the book are not in themselves very clear, but neurosurgical texts were helpful in clarifying the earlier coronal approach and also the later trans-orbital ice pick attack. The book also deals in some detail with the effects of lobotomy and, again, Freeman's relationships with his clientele. The book raises many issues that are still perplexing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)