Long-term changes in self-reported personality following capsulotomy in anxiety patients

Abstract

The objective of the study was to describe changes in self-reported personality in anxiety patients undergoing capsulotomy. Sixteen patients with anxiety diagnoses undergoing capsulotomy were included. Ratings of personality characteristics with the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), anxiety symptoms and adverse effects such as apathy and dysexecution were performed at baseline, at 1 year and 8–18 years post-operatively. Twelve patients had an anxiety reduction of at least 50%. Patients were significantly less anxiety prone at long-term follow-up as measured by KSP. Four patients suffered from adverse effects indicating frontal lobe dysfunction. There was no significant correlation between the reduction in BSA score and the KSP change from pre-operatively to long term in any of the KSP scales. In line with previous studies, high anxiety proneness normalizes after capsulotomy in anxiety patients. Adverse effects were more frequent than expected. The conclusion based on previous KSP findings that the incidence of adverse personality changes following capsulotomy is low and does not increase with time is challenged by the present study.

• Anxiety disorders
• Personality
• Psychosurgery
• Safety