Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias01:25

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...
Psychosurgery01:30

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

EPA guidance on physical activity as a treatment for severe mental illness: a meta-review of the evidence and Position Statement from the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), supported by the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Mental Health (IOPTMH).

European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·2018
Same author

Comparing Schizophrenia Patients With a Predicted High/Low Risk of Nonresponse Receiving Treatment with Ziprasidone and Haloperidol: A Randomized-Controlled Study.

Pharmacopsychiatry·2018
Same author

Is schizophrenia still one entity with similar symptomatic patterns, neurobiological characteristics, and treatment perspectives?

European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience·2018
Same author

Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior as Rare Adverse Events of Antidepressant Medication: Current Report from the AMSP Multicenter Drug Safety Surveillance Project.

The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology·2018
Same author

Efficacy of extended clinical management, group CBT, and group plus individual CBT for major depression: Results of a two-year follow-up study.

Journal of affective disorders·2018
Same author

Combined treatment with memantine and galantamine-CR compared with galantamine-CR only in antidementia drug naïve patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's & dementia (New York, N. Y.)·2018

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

Electroconvulsive therapy and its different indications.

Thomas C Baghai1, Hans-Jürgen Möller

  • 1Dept of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany. baghai@med.uni-muenchen.de

Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience
|May 14, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) offers a highly effective, safe treatment for severe depression and other psychiatric disorders, especially when medications fail. Early ECT use can prevent chronic conditions and improve patient outcomes.

More Related Videos

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
04:51

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
04:29

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Published on: January 7, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
04:51

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
04:29

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Published on: January 7, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry and Neuroscience
  • Biological Treatments
  • Pharmacotherapy

Background:

  • Pharmacotherapy for depressive disorders faces challenges with treatment delays, nonresponse, and nonremission.
  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a proven non-pharmacologic biological treatment for depression, schizophrenia, and other conditions.
  • Existing research lacks controlled studies on long-term ECT treatments, though it shows potential for relapse prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment option.
  • To emphasize ECT's role in managing treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders.
  • To advocate for earlier consideration of ECT to prevent chronic illness.

Main Methods:

  • Review of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment modality.
  • Discussion of advancements in anesthesia and stimulation techniques enhancing ECT safety and tolerability.
  • Analysis of ECT's application in treatment-resistant cases and relapse prevention.

Main Results:

  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly effective for depression and other psychiatric indications.
  • Modern anesthesia and modified stimulation techniques have significantly improved ECT safety and tolerability, even for patients with high somatic risks.
  • ECT remains a crucial option for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders following medication failure.

Conclusions:

  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for severe psychiatric disorders, particularly when pharmacotherapy is unsuccessful.
  • Advancements in ECT administration have broadened its applicability to a wider patient population.
  • Earlier integration of ECT into treatment plans may mitigate the development of chronic and intractable psychiatric conditions.