Electric Shock Therapy

Electric Shock TherapyGood or bad?

Katie Robinson

HistoryTraces back to Hippocrates

Malaria-induced convulsions cure the insane

Convulsions and insanity cannot coexist

Austria

Julius Wagner-Jauregg

1917Noticed patients that survive high fevers

become more sane Injected 9 chronic paresis patients with

malariaFour completely recovered, two improved

Performed complicated treatment on 275 people at risk for paresis

83% of people did not develop paresis

Awarded Nobel Prize in 1927 for his work

Berlin, Germany

Manfred J. Sakel

1927Working as an internist at Lichterfelde

Hospital for Mental Diseases Injected morphine addict with insulinCaused an artificial coma – showed

improvement mentally

Overdose of insulin cause convulsions

Improved technique became “Sakel’s Technique”

Significant for psychiatry – first effective treatment for schizophrenia

Survey - 1939American

Psychiatric Association

1757 schizophrenic patients

11.00%

26.50%

26.00%

Improvement

Immediate & CompleteLargleySome

Pennsylvania Hospital performed survey

63% improved immediately

42% improved within two years

More studies found results were temporary

Budapest

Ladislaus von Meduna

1933Unaware of Sakel’s discoveries

Experimented on animals first

Metrazol induced convulsions

110 people – 50% improved, some cured

Violent seizures – spine fractures in 42% of patients

Ugo Cerletti

Previously studied epileptics

Worked with Lucio Bini and L. B. Kalinowski

Tested electric shocks on mice

Vast improvement in patients

10-20 shocks on alternating days

Caused memory loss and distorted memory of shock

1970’sUsed on unruly patients

Unstrapped and unmedicated

Now

General anesthesia and muscle relaxers

Typical number of shocks: 6-12

Electrodes place on the head

Side effectsMemory loss – short & long term

Studies shown memories can be retrieved

Some patients still have memory loss

Study in July 2007 – some cognitive problems

Concerns about effects on brain structure

Inconclusive studies

Famous peopleWho have received electric shock therapy

Ernest Hemingway (writer)– committed suicide

Silvia Path (poet) – committed suicide

Robert Lowell (poet)

Lou Reed (rock star)