(Undark) – For some patients, removing brain tissue can help treat OCD and other disorders. But ethical concerns remain.

Originally known as psychosurgery, this uncommon approach to mental health care involves operating on the brain to alter its function. After lobotomies left many vulnerable patients disabled in the mid-20th century, the practice lost momentum and acquired a stigma. But surgeons in the field continued to refine their techniques. Now, psychiatric neurosurgery, a more nimble descendent, has seen an uptick in the treatment of conditions like severe OCD, and — more rarely — treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. Researchers say it may also prove beneficial in other hard-to-treat conditions, like anorexia nervosa. In other words: Some now believe that for a small group of patients who have exhausted standard therapies, the removal of brain tissue is a valid treatment path. (Read More)