International Conference “Neurosurgical Management of Psychiatric Disorders”

It is considered acceptable in the modern society if substantial modifications in human behavior, mood, cognitive and sexual functions are achieved with the help of more or less aggressive pharmacotherapy. However, use of surgical methods for correction of the same mental processes triggers controversial emotions. 

Negative implications, unacceptable results and side effects of early aggressive surgeries, aimed at radical changes of human behavior, which were sometimes performed even without consideration of surgical basics (e.g., hemostasis, or aseptic and antiseptic measures) – all these factors led to discredit of psychosurgery. The most famous procedure, prefrontal lobotomy, was performed not only in the USA, but also in others countries. Since 1936 till the end of 1950 about 40,000-50,000 patients underwent lobotomy, and in 1949 Portuguese neurosurgeon Egas Moniz was awarded with Nobel prize for introduction of this method. Lobotomy procedures were prohibited in the USSR by the Order of the Ministry of Health №1003 dated on December 9, 1950. 

Nevertheless, development of functional MRI, tractography and other neurovisualization methods allowed for more precise understanding of neuronal integrity between cerebral structures, and have gave an opportunity to predict a change of function after iatrogenic (or not iatrogenic) destruction of specific structures of the brain. As result, new minimally invasive methods of psychosurgery, such as chronic electrical stimulation of deep brain structures (DBS), which effects are fully reversible, or stereotactic destructive methods applied with high-intensity focused ultrasound or stereotactic radiosurgery, have been developed. 

Nowadays strict control of surgical procedures, which may change human behavior, still exists in the world and that is definitely reasonable for avoidance of their inappropriate use. On the other hand, thousands of individuals with severe drug-resistant psychiatric disorders do not get surgical treatment despite existent methods that have already demonstrated their safety and efficacy. 

To discuss these issues, an International Conference «Neurosurgical Management of Psychiatric Disorders» will be held on February 6-7, 2020 in the Federal Neurosurgical Center (Novosibirsk, Russia). Leading experts in psychosurgery from all over the world will give their lectures during two-day event. Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and modern surgical methods for management of psychiatric disorders will be discussed.

Conference specifically dedicated to psychosurgery is unique not only for Russia. Thus we would like to invite all interested colleagues to join us in the central city of Siberia and take an active part in our Scientific Meeting contributing to its success.

Website of the Conference: psychosurgery.ru