PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWING LOBOTOMY
C. KNIGHT ALDRICH M. D.1
1 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School; Consultant in Psychiatry, Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis.
The problems of all 10 of the clients of a family agency who have had psychosurgery are reviewed. From the point of view of several of the families, continued hospitalization of the patient would have presented fewer problems than resulted from surgery and discharge, although in many cases the patients themselves seemed to be more comfortable after operation. From a consideration of these cases, the following conclusions are drawn:
1. The problems of social adjustment following lobotomy are of such magnitude that a conservative approach to the selection of patients is indicated.
2. The attitudes and resources of the family should receive greater consideration in the selection of patients for lobotomy.
3. The motives and feelings of the responsible relative should be more carefully explored prior to surgery, and the possible aftereffects of the operation explained.
4. Patients who have undergone lobotomy require a great deal of predischarge reeducation and postdischarge supervision, particularly when they return to homes with children.
