OUTCOME AFTER THE PSYCHOSURGICAL OPERATION OF STEREOTAXIC SUBCAUDATE TRACTOTOMY, 1979-1991

The outcome of all psychosurgical operations (stereotactic subcaudate tractotomies) performed at the Geoffrey Knight National Unit for Affec tive Disorders in London since 1979 is reviewed. Of patients who had s uffered severe mood or obsessive-compulsive disorders before surgery, 84 of 249 (34%) were well 1 year after. The effects of gender, psychia tric diagnosis, and age an outcome are assessed. The findings are comp ared with a 1975 outcome study, and explanations for apparent differen ces are proposed.