Psychosurgery and the Mental Health Act Commission

Abstract

It was fully anticipated that the Mental Health Act Commission would take special interest in psychosurgery, and Section 57 is clearly intended to supervise this form of therapy. The Chairman of the Commission, Lord Colville, considerately arranged a visit to our Unit shortly after the implementation of the Act, and this proved to be a most useful meeting. Obviously we were ready to give any help or advice needed, based on our experience of over 1,100 operations carried out over about 20 years. Our world-unique unit has eight beds specifically for the assessment and treatment of patients referred for psychosurgery, although intensive antidepressant medication is sometimes used successfully in order to avoid psychosurgery.