Radiosurgery for psychiatric disorders has been performed for more than 50 
years. The use of deep brain stimulation has recently been expanded to the 
investigational treatment of specific psychiatric disorders. A literature review 
of past studies incorporating radiosurgical stereotactic lesions for psychiatric 
disorders was performed to provide historic context and possible guidance for 
current and future attempts at treating psychiatric disorders, especially by 
gamma capsulotomy. The anatomic target localization, dose selection, and the 
outcome of the radiosurgical procedures were reviewed, and the evolutions of 
lesioning strategies were analyzed with particular emphasis on the dose 
selection. Large-scale prospective studies with strict inclusion and 
well-defined, objective outcome criteria are necessary for defining the role of 
radiosurgery for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.