[Use of electroshock for vital indications]

Electroshock therapy still remains a very controversial problem in the treatment of mental disorders. It is very effective in a narrow range of indications and has not many absolute contraindications. Epilepsy is one of the relative contraindications of electroshock therapy. The authors submit the case-history of an epileptic patient in a severe catatonic state with incipient metabolic breakdown, where electroshock therapy was followed by a rapid effect without any neurological complications. The contraindications of electroshock are rather relative than absolute and it is up to the doctor to consider whether the assumed therapeutic effect will outweigh possible complications.