before and after lobotomy

Before a lobotomy, patients typically showed severe psychiatric or neurological disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, and agitation, often accompanied by emotional distress and behavioral difficulties. The procedure aimed to alleviate symptoms by severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex. After a lobotomy, patients frequently exhibited reduced spontaneity, emotional blunting, decreased self- awareness, and impaired intellectual range. Many showed a marked reduction in initiative, became more docile or childlike, and some faced severe complications like seizures, incontinence, significant weight gain, or even death. While some patients became calmer or more manageable, many suffered lasting cognitive and personality deficits, with a portion left severely disabled or deeply altered psychologically. The procedure was controversial and abandoned as antipsychotic medications emerged.