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 Experiment Videos

Is electroconvulsive therapy safe?

R E Schoen1

  • 1Department of Medicine, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.

Postgraduate Medicine
|May 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains a controversial treatment. This article reviews the risks, contraindications, and physiological effects of this established psychiatric intervention.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Definition and taxonomy of interval colorectal cancers: a proposal for standardising nomenclature.

Gut·2014
Same author

Obesity, weight change, and risk of adenoma recurrence: a prospective trial.

Endoscopy·2012
Same author

Meat consumption and the risk of incident distal colon and rectal adenoma.

British journal of cancer·2011
Same author

Evidence of a healthy volunteer effect in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial.

American journal of epidemiology·2007
Same author

Quality in the technical performance of screening flexible sigmoidoscopy: recommendations of an international multi-society task group.

Gut·2005
Same author

Risk factors for hospitalized gastrointestinal bleeding among older persons. Cardiovascular Health Study Investigators.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·2001
Same journal

Clinical pharmacokinetics of colistimethate sodium and formed colistin in patients with renal impairment or on dialysis modalities: a systematic review and implications for precision dosing.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

The role of type D personality in pregnancy symptom severity, functional limitations, and maternal ambivalence.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

Operational and demographic predictors of leaving without being seen in a high-volume tertiary emergency department: a five-year case-control study.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

Risk of adverse effects of the concomitant use of statins with calcium channel blockers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

Association between frailty and major chronic disease-free life expectancy: a large community-based longitudinal study.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
Same journal

The prevalence of functional iron deficiency and its impact on mortality in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Postgraduate medicine·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Neurology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most often given to those with severe mental health conditions that have not responded to other treatments.
  • ECT has been in existence for approximately 50 years and remains a topic of significant debate.
  • The technique involves inducing a brief seizure in an anesthetized patient under close medical supervision.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
  • To discuss the various aspects of ECT, including its associated risks and contraindications.
  • To elucidate the physiological effects of ECT from an internist's perspective.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and clinical experience regarding ECT.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of safety profiles, including potential risks and adverse events.
  • Examination of the physiological responses to ECT.

    • Main Results:

    • ECT is a complex treatment with a well-documented history.
    • Understanding the risks and contraindications is crucial for safe patient selection and management.
    • The physiological effects of ECT are varied and require careful consideration.

    Conclusions:

    • Electroconvulsive therapy is a viable treatment option when indicated, despite ongoing controversy.
    • A thorough understanding of ECT's risks, contraindications, and physiological effects is essential for clinicians.
    • Further research and open discussion are needed to address the complexities surrounding ECT.