Suicide cure.. Is This Possible?

Quizwizard · 185982. Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:26 am

Hi Guys,
Some years ago I heard of a case whereby a man constantly suffering from depression put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. He did not die as expected and made a full recovery. From then on he never suffered from depression again. A reason given was that he had actually destroyed the part of the brain that was causing the illness.

Is this fact or even possible?

djgordy · 185984. Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:30 am

Perhaps he read Dorothy parker.

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

Long Haired Hippy · 186041. Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:26 am

I should imagine it's possible. Though I'd find it more feasible if he hadn't put the gun in his mouth but had instead chosen a different trajectory. I would aslo assume a pretty low calibre weapon. Second to that if he was cured of his depression it might not be because of his unusual form of brain surgury.

The experience of surving such an ordeal may have put certain contributory factors to his depression in a different perspective.

from the world of fiction I give you a perfect example....

Arseface..

It would be hard to prove if it were. However much of our knowledge of what area of the brain is responsible for what originated by studying the effects of gunshot wounds to the head on the unfortunate victims.

As for whether it's a fact there's simply not enough information to try to find a reference.

barbados · 186093. Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:16 am

So this man's wife was just trying to help him through a bit of a low point then?

smiley_face · 186369. Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:48 am

There isn't really one set area of the brain that organises your emotions.

The limbic system controls emotion, motivation, and emotional association with memory. It consists of several regions, a list of which can be viewed here. [1]

There is also some evidence that the cerebellum (a region at the back of the brain, usually involved with coordination and balance) may play a part in a person's emotions. [2]

Regarding the original question about an man who shot himself, it is true that physical damage to the brain can hugely alter a person's personality and cognitive and emotional functioning. It could have been that the bullet hit one particular area of the brain and affected his brain's functioning so that he no longer suffered depression, but I don't know enough of the physiology of the brain to comment further.

However, there is an area of the brain known as Broca's area, which is involved in the production of speech, and people who suffer damage to this area can read and understand people talking perfectly, but are unable to speak or write. [3]

Also, according to this site, we have three brains. A bit of GI, I daresay, but I shall look into it further.

[1] http://www.psycheducation.org/emotion/brain%20pix.htm
[2] http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7548
[3] Mammalian Physiology and Behaviour

Celebaelin · 186384. Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:07 am

Not to mention the frontal lobes and hence lobomies and ECT to treat mental illness. The techniques may have been abused but the basis, to relieve distress by destruction of brain tissue, was at least partially successful.

swot · 186469. Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:52 am

Efros · 186848. Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:42 am

AS my father was fond of saying "9 mil pill cures all ill, it just has to be taken cranially".