SOME PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN 538 TRANSORBITAL LOBOTOMY CASES

A statistical analysis was made of the significance of 18 psychiatric and sociologic factors in improvement and unimprovement of 538 mental patients following transorbital lobotomy. The results indicated that 57% showed improvement while 43% failed to improve. Fatalities amounted to 2%. Fifty-three percent left the hospital following transorbital lobotomy with 31% still remaining out of the hospital to date. Thirteen factors were found to significantly discriminate between improvement and unimprovement following transorbital lobotomy: sex, color, diagnosis, duration of illness, duration of hospitalization, number of electric shock treatments, number of insulin coma hours, marital status, education, occupational class, church affiliation, venereal history, and readmission status. The remaining 5 factors found to be insignificant in improvement and unimprovement following transorbital lobotomy were: age, onset of illness, suicidal tendencies, birth order, and number of siblings of the patient. Profiles of the theoretical patient more likely and less likely to improve following transorbital lobotomy are presented.