J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1995; 7:230-234
Copyright © 1995 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Outcome after the psychosurgical operation of stereotactic subcaudate tractotomy, 1979-1991
AD Hodgkiss, AL Malizia, JR Bartlett and PK Bridges
Geoffrey Knight National Unit for Affective Disorders, Brook General Hospital, London, England.
The outcome of all psychosurgical operations (stereotactic subcaudate
tractotomies) performed at the Geoffrey Knight National Unit for Affective
Disorders in London since 1979 is reviewed. Of patients who had suffered
severe mood or obsessive-compulsive disorders before surgery, 84 of 249
(34%) were well 1 year after. The effects of gender, psychiatric diagnosis,
and age on outcome are assessed. The findings are compared with a 1975
outcome study, and explanations for apparent differences are proposed.
