What can you tell me about shock treatment of the brain for mental illness?

Answer by  Farsight (13)

Before the advent in the 1950's of anti-psychotic medications,a mentally ill person was likely to receive shock treatments, known as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Now, only in extreme cases where all else has failed, is this method employed. The technique used today is not as inhumane as it was decades ago, but anti-psychotics are preferable.

Answer by  Doomstoned (1454)

To put this in proper perspective, an appropriate analogy to addressing mental illness with shock therapy would be the medieval process in which practioners drilled holes in the skulls of those afflicted in order release the alleged "demons" residing within. Both treatment approaches are equally barbaric and have very questionable medical efficacy at best.

Answer by  timeismoney (994)

Shock treatment or electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is typically used as a last resort when very depressed patients have not responded to psychotherapy or antidepressant medication. A risk is memory loss.

Answer by  cafish (2035)

This treatment is used for severe depression. It was used frequently decades ago. And now is in use again. It can cause memory loss. When I worked in a retirement home,an elderly lady had shock treatment. The change was unbelievable. She became outgoing and even stopped smoking. But this is because she forgot that she smoked.

Answer by  Darkephoenix (1789)

To a certain extent it short circuits certain neuropathways in the brain, causing them to be rearranged. This is mildly helpful in some cases but the resulting issues are often not worth the questionable benefits. It hasn't been used on any regular basis by the mental health community for several years now.