What are the side effects of psychosurgery?

Answer 1

Psychosurgery is highly invasive and the effects it has on the brain are irreversible. For these reasons, psychosurgery is tightly regulated in the UK. In England and Wales, a panel appointed by the Mental Health Act Commission is required to assess the individuals ability to give full consent to psychosurgery and to weigh up the costs and benefits of the procedure.

The risks associated with any brain surgery are damage to blood vessels (possibly resulting in a stroke, although this is very rare), epilepsy and confusion due to the fluid in the tissues.

Adverse effects associated specifically with psychosurgery are headaches (which may be severe and last for some days), weight gain and apathy. Personality changes are also reported in some people, however this is considered to be rare.

There is no evidence to say that psychosurgery causes intellectual impairment, and some cases, IQ scores have actually increased.