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Electroconvulsive Therapy

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 4, 2026

A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Multiple Sclerosis MS

A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Multiple Sclerosis MS

Published on: December 26, 2015

Electroconvulsive Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis.

Katie Steen¹, Puneet Narang¹, Steven Lippmann¹

¹Dr. Steen is psychiatry resident at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Dr. Narang is Staff Physician and Lead ECT Psychiatrist, Regions Hospital, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; and Dr. Lippmann is Professor of Psychiatry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.

Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience

|September 10, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) appears safe and effective for treating psychiatric symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. While most MS patients experienced symptom relief, active white matter lesions may indicate a risk of neurological decline.

Keywords:

ECT depression electroconvulsive therapy multiple sclerosis

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

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

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

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Last Updated: Apr 4, 2026

A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Multiple Sclerosis MS

A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Multiple Sclerosis MS

Published on: December 26, 2015

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

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

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychiatry
Neurology

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
MS patients frequently experience comorbid psychiatric conditions, notably depression.
The pathophysiology of depression in MS and its impact require further understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for psychiatric symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
To review existing literature on ECT use in the MS population.

Main Methods:

A literature search was conducted using PubMed.
The review focused on studies examining electroconvulsive therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis and psychiatric comorbidities.

Main Results:

The majority of reviewed patients with MS reported significant improvement in psychiatric symptoms following ECT.
A small number of patients experienced neurological deterioration.
Evidence suggests active white matter lesions might predict neurological decline after ECT in MS patients.

Conclusions:

The literature indicates that ECT is a potentially safe and efficacious treatment for psychiatric disorders in individuals with MS.
Further research is necessary to establish definitive clinical recommendations.