Which procedure is viewed as the earliest surgical approach to treat mental illness?

Trephenation is recognized as one of the earliest surgical procedures used in the treatment of mental illness. This technique dates back to prehistoric times and involves drilling a hole in the skull. It was believed that this procedure could release evil spirits or alleviate pressure on the brain, which was thought to be the cause of certain psychological disorders. The practice reflects early attempts to understand and treat mental illness in a physical and anatomical context.

While lobotomy, cricothyrotomy, and psycho-surgery are all surgical procedures related to mental health, they developed much later in the history of psychiatry. Lobotomy specifically became popular in the mid-20th century as a means to treat severe mental disorders by severing connections in the brain. Cricothyrotomy is an emergency procedure to secure an airway and is not directly related to the treatment of mental illness. Psycho-surgery, while related to the modern understanding of treating certain mental health conditions through surgical means, is a more contemporary approach and does not predate trephenation. Therefore, trephenation stands out as the original method seen in historical accounts of mental illness treatment.