There wasn't any kind of sensible research before lobotomy was widely accepted. Research following up the condition of patients of the most prolific surgeon in England found that about one third benefited, one third was unaffected, and one third suffered. The suffering was often severe as you can imagine when you stir someone's brain with a spike.
People thought it worked but they didn't have anything but their anecdotal evidence to support it. And that was good enough for them to perform thousands of operations.
http://bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15629160
There wasn't any kind of sensible research before lobotomy was widely accepted. Research following up the condition of patients of the most prolific surgeon in England found that about one third benefited, one third was unaffected, and one third suffered. The suffering was often severe as you can imagine when you stir someone's brain with a spike.
People thought it worked but they didn't have anything but their anecdotal evidence to support it. And that was good enough for them to perform thousands of operations.