Definition
Prefrontal lobotomy is a neurosurgical procedure that used to be much more in evidence than it is at present. Prefrontal denotes the anterior component of the frontal lobe of the cerebral hemisphere and the granular frontal cortex. It is also anterior to the premotor area of the cerebral hemisphere. Long ago, it was thought that a bilateral removal of these areas of the cerebral hemispheres would lessen the antisocial activity potential in that treated patient and lower the capability for participation in violent crime. This procedure was thought to have a capacity to reduce the number of inpatient beds filled by psychiatric patients with violent histories. Postoperative psychiatric inpatients were actually augmented. Side effects and complications were significant enough that this neurological surgical procedure is not as frequently used and it is used only for very special indications.
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The application of this neurological surgical procedure was previously...
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http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Lobotomy%20(Prefrontal%20Lobotomy). Accessed 10/8/16.
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Zasler, N.D., Kaplan, P.E. (2018). Prefrontal Lobotomy. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_64
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_64
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