Psychosurgery Therapy

What is psychosurgery?

A surgical procedure that alters brain function to treat severe mental disorders.

What was a common psychosurgical procedure performed in the 1940s and 1950s?

Lobotomy.

What is a transorbital lobotomy?

A lobotomy performed by inserting an instrument through the eye socket to damage the prefrontal cortex.

What is deep brain stimulation (DBS)?

A modern psychosurgery technique that involves implanting wires in the brain to interrupt problematic circuitry.

What assumption does the biological approach make about psychological disorders?

They have physiological causes similar to physical illnesses.

What is the localisation of brain function?

The idea that specific areas of the brain are responsible for different functions.

How does the role of neurotransmitters relate to mental disorders?

Certain neurotransmitter levels are associated with specific mental disorders.

What is the purpose of a prefrontal lobotomy?

To alleviate severe symptoms of mental illness by damaging the frontal lobe.

Who developed the prefrontal leucotomy?

Egas Moniz.

What is stereotactic psychosurgery?

A precise method of treating mental disorders by severing specific brain connections using imaging technology.

What types of mental disorders can be treated with psychosurgery?

OCD, bipolar disorder, depression, and eating disorders.

What is the main goal of drug therapy in treating psychological disorders?

To manage symptoms effectively.

What is a potential downside of the quick-fix nature of drug therapy?

It may overlook other therapeutic options.

What is a key component of evaluating drug therapy?

Assessing its effectiveness and ethical considerations.

What is the relationship between low serotonin levels and mental health?

Low serotonin levels are linked to depression.

What is the focus of the physiological approach in psychology?

The influence of neurochemicals, hormones, and the brain on behavior.

What is the nativist approach in psychology?

It examines evolutionary and genetic influences on behavior.

What is the significance of valid consent in drug therapy?

Patients must fully understand the treatment and its implications to give informed consent.

What is the purpose of a cingulotomy?

To interrupt the circuit linking the orbital frontal lobe to deeper brain structures, particularly in cases of OCD.

How can surgeons perform a cingulotomy?

By burning away tissue with a heated electrode or using a gamma knife to focus radiation on the target site.

What is a capsulotomy?

A surgical procedure where probes are inserted through the skull to burn away tissue in the capsule region of the brain.

What ethical considerations are associated with psychosurgery?

Concerns include valid consent, irreversible damage, and the appropriateness of the procedure for certain mental health conditions.

What was the fatality rate of early lobotomies?

Up to 6%.

What are some severe side effects of early psychosurgery?

Brain seizures, lack of emotional responsiveness, and significant cognitive changes.

What percentage of OCD patients experienced improvement after cingulotomy according to Cosgrove and Rauch (2001)?

56%.

What is the effectiveness rate of capsulotomy in patients with major affective disorder?

55%.

What did Mayberg et al. (2005) find regarding DBS in patients with severe depression?

Striking improvements were noted in four out of six patients following treatment.

What is the significance of the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 in relation to psychosurgery?

It established more stringent provisions regarding consent for psychosurgical treatment.

What is a major concern regarding the effects of psychosurgery?

The effects are irreversible and can lead to significant cognitive and emotional changes.

What are the risks associated with modern psychosurgery techniques?

Long-term side effects such as seizures and altered mood states.

What classic evidence supports the biological approach to criminal behavior?

Research by Adrian Raine and colleagues on brain abnormalities in murderers using positron emission tomography.

What areas of the brain were focused on in the study of violent individuals?

Prefrontal cortex, angular gyrus, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and corpus callosum.

What is the role of the limbic system in relation to emotion?

It includes structures such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus, which are associated with emotional regulation.

What did early theories by Cesare Lombroso suggest about criminals?

That physical differences could identify criminals before they committed crimes.

What is the primary criticism of psychosurgery according to Szasz (1978)?

That a person's psychological self is not a physical entity and cannot be operated on.

What is the purpose of psychosurgery?

To treat severe mental health conditions that have proven otherwise untreatable.

What is the typical use of psychosurgery today?

It is rarely used and considered a treatment of last resort.

What is the importance of informed consent in psychosurgery?

Patients must be in the right frame of mind to give fully informed consent, especially in severe cases of mental illness.

What are the implications of irreversible damage from psychosurgery?

Patients may experience lasting cognitive deficits and emotional blunting.

What is the significance of Howard Dully's book 'My Lobotomy'?

It provides a personal account of the experiences and consequences of being a lobotomy patient.

What are the modern advancements in psychosurgery compared to early practices?

Modern techniques are less primitive and aim to target precise brain locations, reducing risks of severe damage.

What is the role of research in the evolution of DBS?

DBS serves as both a treatment and a research tool, providing insights into brain activity.

What are the main components of psychosurgery?

Involves surgical procedures like cingulotomy and capsulotomy to treat severe mental disorders.

What is the effectiveness of psychosurgery in treating OCD?

Cingulotomy and capsulotomy have shown effectiveness rates of 56% and 67%, respectively.

What structures have been linked to violent behavior in previous research?

The angular gyrus and corpus callosum.

What was the independent variable (IV) in the study?

Whether participants were murderers (NGRI) or not.

What was the dependent variable (DV) in the study?

Brain differences.

How many murderers were included in the experimental group?

41 murderers (39 men and 2 women).

What mental disorders were present in the participants?

Schizophrenia, history of head injury, drug abuse, affective disorder, epilepsy, hyperactivity, and personality disorder.

What was the control group matched based on?

Sex and age.

What was a significant finding regarding brain activity in NGRI participants?

Reduced activity in areas previously linked to violence, such as the prefrontal cortex and angular gyrus.

What areas showed increased activity in NGRI participants?

Cerebellum, amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus.

What did the study conclude about brain dysfunction and violence?

There is a link between brain dysfunction and a predisposition towards violence in NGRI murderers.

What did the study find about performance on the continuous performance task (CPT)?

Both groups performed similarly, indicating brain differences were not related to task performance.

What is the significance of the findings related to the left and right hemispheres?

Reduced activity on the left side and greater activity on the right side were noted in some areas linked to violence.

What confounding variables did the researchers acknowledge?

Head injury and psychiatric illness in relatives.

What does the study suggest about the causes of violent behavior?

Violent behavior is not determined by biology alone; social, psychological, and cultural factors also play important roles.

What does the study not demonstrate regarding NGRI murderers?

It does not show that they are not responsible for their actions or that PET scans can diagnose violent individuals.

What is the implication of the findings for understanding criminal behavior?

Criminal behavior may be influenced by a disruption of a network of interacting brain mechanisms rather than a single structure.

What was the method used to study brain activity in participants?

Participants were injected with a tracer (FDG) and underwent PET scans.

What was the purpose of the continuous performance task (CPT) in the study?

To activate target brain areas for comparison between groups.

What was the sample selection method used in the study?

Opportunity sampling.

What did past research identify about the limbic system?

It is linked to aggression and emotional responses.

What is the role of the amygdala in aggression according to past research?

It modulates aggression and lack of fear in animals.

What deficits are associated with damage to the left hemisphere?

Deficits in verbal and arithmetic abilities.

What does the dominance of the right hemisphere suggest about emotional regulation?

Less regulation by the left hemisphere can lead to inappropriate emotional expression.

What is the relationship between brain dysfunction and learning from experience in violent offenders?

Violent offenders may fail to learn from experience due to brain dysfunction.

What does the study suggest about the complexity of neural processes underlying violence?

They cannot be reduced to a single brain mechanism.

What ethical considerations arise from the study's findings?

The implications of biological determinism in criminal behavior and responsibility.

What is one of the key takeaways from Raine et al.'s study?

It provides preliminary evidence that murderers pleading NGRI have different brain functioning compared to normal individuals.

What is the nature vs. nurture debate in criminal behavior?

The debate centers on whether criminals are made by social factors (nurture) or born with predispositions (nature).

What is a quasi-experiment?

A study where the independent variable is not manipulated by the experimenter, often due to ethical or practical constraints.

What ethical issues arise from studying murderers in research?

Concerns include valid consent, psychological harm, and the potential for misinterpretation of findings.

What does PET stand for in brain imaging?

Positron Emission Tomography.

What did the PET scans reveal about murderers in Raine's study?

They showed reduced blood flow and glucose metabolism in damaged areas of the brain.

What is the significance of the independent variable in Raine's study?

The independent variable is the criminal status of participants, which was an existing condition rather than manipulated.

What are the implications of Raine's findings on violent behavior?

The findings suggest that violent behavior is influenced by both biological and social factors, not determined solely by biology.

What is the diathesis-stress model?

A psychological theory that suggests genetic predispositions (diathesis) are only expressed under certain stressors.

Who is Adrian Raine?

A researcher known for his work on the relationship between brain dysfunction and criminal behavior.

What did the study by Yang and Raine (2009) find?

It found significantly reduced prefrontal activity in antisocial and violent individuals.

What is the MAOA gene associated with?

It is linked to high levels of dopamine and an increased likelihood of committing violent crimes.

What are the potential social implications of Raine's research?

It may lead to societal bias against individuals with similar brain abnormalities, affecting their treatment in the justice system.

What is a significant limitation of Raine's study?

The study's conclusions are limited to a specific group of individuals with recognized mental impairments.

What is socially sensitive research?

Research that has implications for the larger group of which participants are members, potentially affecting societal views.

What is the role of psychological harm in research ethics?

Researchers must ensure participants are not subjected to distress or lowered self-esteem during studies.

What should be included when evaluating Raine's study in an exam?

Discuss methodology, procedures, findings, conclusions, and ethical/social implications.

What is the importance of valid consent in research?

Participants must fully understand what participation entails and their right to withdraw at any time.

What was Charles Whitman's case significant for?

His case highlighted the potential link between brain abnormalities and violent behavior.

What did Raine et al. (2003) find in the Mauritius Child Health Project?

They found that enriched early education reduced the likelihood of antisocial behavior in later life.

What is the main conclusion of Raine's research on murderers?

The research indicates a complex interaction between biological predispositions and environmental factors in criminal behavior.

What are the potential consequences of assuming criminals are born, not made?

This belief could lead to unjust treatment of individuals with brain abnormalities, ignoring their social circumstances.

What is the significance of the findings related to brain dysfunction in violent offenders?

They suggest that brain abnormalities may contribute to violent behavior, but do not determine it entirely.

What is the relationship between genetics and criminal behavior according to recent studies?

Genetics may predispose individuals to criminal behavior, but environmental factors also play a crucial role.

What are the implications of using PET scans in research?

They allow for detailed examination of brain activity and can reveal differences in brain function among individuals.

What should researchers be cautious about when interpreting findings from studies on criminal behavior?

They should avoid overgeneralizing results and ensure that conclusions consider the complexity of human behavior.

What is the potential impact of research findings on public perception of crime?

Findings may influence societal attitudes towards individuals with mental health issues or brain abnormalities.

What is the importance of comparing Raine's study with alternative evidence?

It helps to contextualize findings and assess the robustness of conclusions drawn from the study.