The History Of Electric Shock Therapy

Content/trigger warning: Please be advisedthat this article contains mentions of suicidal ideation. If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255, and is available 24/7.

Electric shock therapy has a long and controversial history as a treatment for many mental health issues. Infamously depicted in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, electric shock therapy has gained a reputation as a brutal and inhumane punishment for those struggling with their mental health.

This film does indeed portray the reality of a small portion of clients from the early days of electric shock therapy treatment. Even so, the dramatic portrayal of electric shock therapy differs immensely from how the treatment has typically been administered, especially from how it is used in hospitals currently.

Today, electric shock therapy has been shelved in favor of talk therapy and more effective medications. Although it is no longer used as commonly as it was in the past, shock therapy for depression, schizophrenia, mania, and dementia is still widely used by mental health professionals when other types of treatment fail.

This article will take a closer look at how electric shock therapy began and how it has evolved over the years. 

What is electric shock therapy?

Electric shock therapy, sometimes called electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is a procedure that sends minor electric currents through a client’s brain. By deliberately causing a short seizure, electric shock therapy attempts to alter a client’s brain chemistry with the intent of lessening the effects of a specific disorder, if not curing them entirely.

Before electric shock therapy can be administered, a series of tests and examinations must take place. First, the client and doctor must discuss and explore the available treatment options for their disorder. A  will be constructed, and then the first procedure can occur.

Clients will be put under general anesthesia at each session, fitted with an IV, and given a muscle relaxant before a nurse readies the procedure’s electrodes.

Electric shock therapy is completed over several sessions. These sessions are often administered over two to four weeks, at a rate of up to three sessions per week. Most sessions take between five and ten minutes, but preparation and recovery time can extend treatment time.

Electric shock therapy of the past

Electric shock therapy has changed and developed over its life as a medical treatment. For instance, shock therapy for depression has its origins in the eighteenth century, when the London Medical Journal cited intentional seizure induction as a treatment for various psychiatric disorders. However, it wasn’t until the late 1930s when an Italian physician invented electric shock therapy, paving the way for the treatment as the public understands it today.

Rising to prominence as a treatment for depression, schizophrenia, and other disorders, electric shock therapy soon became common in hospitals and psychiatric facilities worldwide. Before this, Metrazol, a form of medication, was used to induce seizures medically, but the process was often traumatizing. In search of a safer and less upsetting option, doctors and medical researchers began to explore other avenues for achieving similar results; electric shock soon became an easy solution to this problem.

Originally touted as a more humane manner of achieving these results, the electric shock therapy of the 1940s and 1950s was often just as terrifying as Metrazol-induced seizures.

Clients also experienced intense side effects associated with the treatment. During this period, electric shock therapy side effects often included severe memory loss and broken or fractured bones. Clients also reported long-term and debilitating confusion. Electric shock therapy was often administered without anesthesia or muscle relaxants, so clients were conscious throughout the procedure. Little action was taken to mitigate these and other negative side effects of the treatment.

At psychiatric facilities, the terror of electric shock therapy was increased when it was used as a tool for abuse. This abusive behavior increased the stigma surrounding electric shock therapy and led the general public and mental health professionals alike to renounce the treatment.

Current uses for electric shock therapy

As used today, electric shock therapy can help address various conditions that do not respond to other treatment methods.

• Shock Therapy For Depression: Individuals with severe forms of depression may find relief in electric shock therapy. Depression may be accompanied by psychosis or intense suicidal ideation. Depression that is resistant to medications and other treatment also makes an ideal candidate for shock therapy.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 and is available 24/7, or you can text the word “HOME” to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

• Mania: Often a symptom of bipolar disorder, this state of hyperactivity can result in impulsive and unsafe decision-making, uncharacteristic behavior, use of drugs or alcohol, or a disconnect from reality. Electric shock therapy can be used to decrease the intensity of these episodes.
• Schizophrenia: Electric shock therapy can be effective in treating some of the symptoms of disorders like schizophrenia. For instance, catatonia, a symptom of schizophrenia, can result in a lack of movement and speech; other illnesses also cause it. This symptom can be effectively treated by electric shock therapy, reducing the disorder’s effect on a client’s life.
• Dementia: Although not used to treat dementia itself, electric shock therapy can be used to address the anxiety and hostility often associated with dementia.

In general, doctors and mental health professionals will only use electric shock therapy as a last resort for clients that have not experienced any relief through all other available treatment options. Extensive medical tests are completed before treatment begins, and a team of experienced health professionals monitors the treatment itself closely.

Physicians recommend that clients continue taking psychiatric medications to enhance the effects of electric shock therapy and lower the chance of relapsing once treatment has ended.

Electric shock therapy side effects

Like almost all medical procedures, electric shock therapy does have a few notable side effects, although it is largely considered by medical professionals to be safe for clients. Additionally, unlike the electric shock therapy of the past, today’s treatments are more targeted and more comfortable for clients.

Common electric shock therapy side effects include:

• Memory Loss: After treatment, some clients may struggle to recall events from the day of treatment and the few weeks or months before treatment. Called retrograde amnesia, this side effect typically improves within a few months after the treatment course is finished. Although extremely rare, permanent long-term memory loss has been reported as a side effect of electric shock therapy. Clients may struggle to remember the years leading up to treatment. Again, this extent of memory loss is extremely uncommon.
• Confusion: In the first few minutes or hours after the treatment, clients may feel unsure about their identities, their relationships, or their reason for being at the hospital. This side effect often dissipates shortly, although older adults may experience more profound or longer-lasting confusion.
• Medical Issues: Individuals with preexisting heart conditions may want to avoid electric shock therapy. This treatment may cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, potentially triggering more serious heart problems. Additionally, as is common in any procedure that requires anesthesia, further complications may occur.
• Physical Issues: Directly after electric shock therapy, some clients may experience physical side effects, such as nausea, headaches, jaw tension, or muscle pains. These side effects are typically short-lived and can be treated with over-the-counter medications. They do not typically last longer than the time of the treatment course.

Clients should work closely with their doctors to monitor their side effects and track their progress.

Find support for mental health conditions online

After learning what shock therapy is and how its side effects could manifest, along with its current and past uses, individuals may feel that electric shock therapy is right for them. Clients should be sure to consult their doctors to discuss the treatment course that is right for them and their specific disorder.

However, the first step for someone experiencing depression or another mental health disorder should be to seek a licensed therapist’s aid. 

After completing a short questionnaire,  can match you with a credentialed therapist who can address your needs on your time by providing effective and personalized counseling through your computer, tablet, or phone. Clients can receive counseling through written messages, live chats, phone conversations, and video conferences; you can choose the method that best suits your availability and comfort level. 

Many individuals have received help to improve their mental health through online therapy. When insurance won't cover therapy, online therapy may be a cost-effective alternative. Online therapy is convenient, allowing someone to get the support they need from the comfort of home.

A therapist can help you determine if you need to seek more extensive care for whatever you're dealing with.