A Retrospective Controlled Study of Leucotomy in Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders

Abstract

The controlled study of the major physical treatments in schizophrenia (and other psychiatric conditions) has been retarded by the view that it is unethical to withhold treatment from the patient. Although this argument is clearly dubious until a treatment is proved, the number of forward-looking controlled studies of E.C.T., insulin coma therapy and leucotomy may nevertheless be counted on the fingers of two hands. Not all schizophrenics have, however, received every possible treatment, and if it were possible to make comparisons of treated and untreated cases retrospectively, there would be no ethical objection to overcome.