A lobotomy (Greek: lobos:Lobe of brain, tomos: "cut/slice") is a form of psychosurgery, also known as a leukotomy (from Greek leukos: clear or white and tomos meaning "cut/slice"). It consists of cutting the connections to and from, or simply destroying, the prefrontal cortex. These procedures often result in major personality changes or even mental retardation. Lobotomies have been used in the past to treat a wide range of mental illnesses including schizophrenia, clinical depression, and various anxiety disorders. Since the development of such antipsychotic drugs as Thorazine in the 1950s, lobotomies and other forms of psychosurgery have become generally obsolete.
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