The role of bioethics in the neurosurgical treatment of psychiatric disorders

Abstract

Psychiatric neurosurgery or psychosurgery remains as an alternative for treatment of psychiatric disorders. However, its historical antecedents, the vulnerable specific condition of psychiatric patients, the high cost of instrumentation and the ethic dilemma about the autonomy of subjects whose are candidates to this kind of procedures condition to get a interdisciplinary and specialized staff and at less supervision for ethic local committee. There are ablative or deep brain stimulation procedures accepted as compassionate or investigational use. Into systematic review four International Ethic Guides are accepted for the indication, the implantation and the follow up of these treatments. 24 bioethics essays were found them and 9 ethics specific dilemmas were published. Expectancy and development of this medical issue are inherent to financial or biotechnological aspects, consequently is important to promote a scientific and philosophical discussion.

Keywords

• Bioethics
• Psychiatric neurosurgery
• Psychosurgery
• Stereotactic surgery