Skip to main content
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1970 Dec;33(6):858–863. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.33.6.858

Stereotaxic amygdalotomy and basofrontal tractotomy in psychotics with aggressive behaviour

K Værnet 1,2, Anna Madsen 1,2
PMCID: PMC493604  PMID: 5531905

Abstract

Twelve patients with personality disorders or chronic schizophrenia in whom aggressive-destructive behaviour was a prominent feature were treated by bilateral stereotaxic electrocoagulation of the amygdala. In two of the patients a cingulectomy and in five of the patients a frontal lobotomy had been performed several years previously without effect. In 11 of the patients the amygdalotomy resulted in disappearance of, or marked reduction in, their aggressive episodes. In two patients with frequent self-mutilations and reactive psychotic episodes these symptoms disappeared after an additional basofrontal tractotomy by Knight's method.

Full text

PDF
858

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BAIRD H. W., 3rd, SPIEGEL E. A., WYCIS H. T. Studies in stereoencephalotomy. IX. The variability in the extent and position of the amygdala. Confin Neurol. 1960;20:26–36. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Falconer M. A. The surgical treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy. Neurochirurgia (Stuttg) 1965 Sep;8(5):161–172. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1095396. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. GIBBS F. A. Abnormal electrical activity in the temporal regions and its relationship to abnormalities of behavior. Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis. 1958;36:278–294. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. HILL D. EEG in episodic psychotic and psychopathic behaviour; a classification of data. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1952 Nov;4(4):419–442. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(52)90074-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. HUGHES J. R., SCHLAGENHAUFFRE Electro-clinical correlation in temporal lobe epilepsy with emphasis on inter-areal analysis of the temporal lobe. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1961 Jun;13:333–339. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Heimburger R. F., Whitlock C. C., Kalsbeck J. E. Stereotaxic amygdalotomy for epilepsy with aggressive behavior. JAMA. 1966 Nov 14;198(7):741–745. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. KNIGHT G. STEREOTACTIC TRACTOTOMY IN THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1965 Aug;28:304–310. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.28.4.304. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Livingston K. E. The frontal lobes revisited. The case for a second look. Arch Neurol. 1969 Jan;20(1):90–95. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1969.00480070100011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. MACLEAN P. D., DELGADO J. M. R. Electrical and chemical stimulation of frontotemporal portion of limbic system in the waking animal. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1953 Feb;5(1):91–100. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(53)90056-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. MILNER B. Psychological defects produced by temporal lobe excision. Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis. 1958;36:244–257. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Mark V. H., Ervin F. R., Sweet W. H., Delgado J. Remote telemeter stimulation and recording from implanted temporal lobe electrodes. Confin Neurol. 1969;31(1):86–93. doi: 10.1159/000103511. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. NARABAYASHI H., NAGAO T., SAITO Y., YOSHIDA M., NAGAHATA M. Stereotaxic amygdalotomy for behavior disorders. Arch Neurol. 1963 Jul;9:1–16. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1963.00460070011001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. TERZIAN H., ORE G. D. Syndrome of Klüver and Bucy; reproduced in man by bilateral removal of the temporal lobes. Neurology. 1955 Jun;5(6):373–380. doi: 10.1212/wnl.5.6.373. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. URSIN H. The temporal lobe substrate of fear and anger. A review of recent stimulation and ablation studies in animals and humans. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1960;35:378–396. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1960.tb07607.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES