Abstract
Few controlled studies of neurologic function in frontal leukotomy patients have been done. The authors compared neurologic examinations of patients who had bilateral leukotomies with those of psychiatric control subjects matched for age, diagnosis, and duration of illness. Cranial nerve dysfunction, abnormal involuntary movements, and primitive reflexes were common. No significant differences between the two patient groups were found. The leukotomized patients were less irritable than control subjects and had statistically higher seizure and death rates. Neurologic abnormalities are, thus, common in elderly chronic psychiatric patients. Surprisingly, patients with bilateral prefrontal leukotomy do not differ from well-matched psychiatric controls on most clinical tests of neurologic function.
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Bipolar Disorder / physiopathology
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Bipolar Disorder / surgery*
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Chronic Disease
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Cohort Studies
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Cranial Nerve Diseases / diagnosis
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Cranial Nerve Diseases / physiopathology
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Male
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Mental Status Schedule
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Middle Aged
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Movement Disorders / diagnosis
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Movement Disorders / physiopathology
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Neurocognitive Disorders / physiopathology
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Neurocognitive Disorders / surgery*
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Neurologic Examination*
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Postoperative Complications / diagnosis*
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Postoperative Complications / physiopathology
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Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
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Prefrontal Cortex / surgery*
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Psychosurgery*
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Schizophrenia / physiopathology
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Schizophrenia / surgery*
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Schizophrenic Psychology*
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Sensation Disorders / diagnosis
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Sensation Disorders / physiopathology
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed