Pubdate: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 Source: Times, The (UK) Copyright: 1999 Times Newspapers Ltd Contact: http://www.the-times.co.uk/ Author: Dr Thomas Stuttaford DOUBTS ON RISKY 'CURE' DRUG addicts, and many of their doctors, believe that there is an addictive personality, but scientific evidence to prove one exists is scanty. Certainly there can be a genetic link related to a development of addiction. British doctors, like their Russian colleagues, would agree that addicts often display obsessional characteristics. Many alcoholics, for instance, are not only obsessed by arranging their next drink, but have an overwhelming interest in anything to do with alcohol and drinking. The skill in the mapping of the various activities of the functioning brain is advancing rapidly; but usually faulty working in one or another part of the brain is associated with under, rather than over, activity. Although invasive brain surgery to remove a focus of epileptic seizures is successful, surgery designed to obliterate small sections of the brain to help someone's psyche is a risky business, and has not proved generally advantageous. Operations of this type were tried 40 years ago to treat those whose mental state prevented them from living a normal life. Such conditions, known as borderline personality, intractable schizophrenia and very severe anxiety states, were treated in this way. Although there were anecdotal reports of success, the patients tended to relapse, or some were reduced to a zombie-type existence. Few British doctors would recommend this new Russian treatment until its safety and value has been confirmed by multi-centre randomised trials. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck