psychosurgery

[ sahy-koh-sur-juh-ree ]

noun

1. treatment of mental disorders by means of brain surgery.

psychosurgery

/ ˌsaɪkəʊˈsɜːdʒɪkəl; ˌsaɪkəʊˈsɜːdʒərɪ /

noun

1. any surgical procedure on the brain, such as a frontal lobotomy, to relieve serious mental disorders

Derived Forms

• psychosurgical, adjective

Other Words From

• psy·cho·sur·geon [sahy-koh-, sur, -j, uh, n], noun
• psy·cho·sur·gi·cal [sahy-koh-, sur, -ji-k, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychosurgery¹

First recorded in 1935–40; psycho- + surgery