Psychological evaluation of intelligence and personality in parkinsonism before and after stereotaxic surgery.

Abstract

In a series of Parkinsonian patients subjected to stereotaxic surgery, the mental function was studied by means of psychological tests. The purpose was to throw light on the possible postoperative mental changes which together with fear of speech disturbances seem to be the most important contra-indications for neurosurgical treatment. In the study, 41 patients operated on for Parkinsonism were subjected to preoperative and postoperative psychological tests (average observation period 8.7 months). Bilateral operation was performed in seven cases. The mean age of the patients was 60 years. The tests used were the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Rorschach test. In the series as a whole, no significant quantitative changes in the postoperative mental function were revealed by the two tests. The Rorschach test revealed as an interesting finding that all the Parkinsonian patients preoperatively showed some mental reduction and that there was no significant difference between the patients with paralysis agitans and those with postencephalitic Parkinsonism. Slight postoperative changes, viz. a diminished and more rigid activity, were demonstrated in three clinical groups: patients subjected to operation on the globus pallidus, patients with postencephalitic Parkinsonism, and those with unilateral affection in the dominant hemisphere. The results of the study thus seem to indicate that a certain reluctance should be exercised in offering stereotaxic surgery to postencephalitic patients and to those with unilateral affection in the dominant hemisphere. Apart from this, it seems justified to conclude that in patients who otherwise meet the indications, the risk of postoperative mental impairment does not constitute a contra-indication for this type of surgery.