Bilateral cingulotomy

The bilateral cingulotomy is a form of brain surgery. It is referred to as psychosurgery and can, in some sufferers, alleviate mental disorders such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), when the condition being treated has not responded to any form of conventional therapy, such as, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, electro-convulsive therapy, and pharmacological treatment.

The surgery targets the cingulate gyrus, which is a small area in the brain connecting the limbic system and the frontal lobes. Bilateral cingulotomy is a process in which a very specific surgical lesion to the cingulate bundle is made. It has been shown to be 30% effective in the treatment of OCD patients who had previously shown no improvement after extensive conventional treatments. It is considered the last possible resort and is only used when no other avenue of hope is available to alleviate the patient's suffering.