Shock Them Sane

Electroconvulsive Therapy Today

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) has a shamefully barbaric history in our country, right up there with frontal lobotomies.

It involves passing electrical shock through a depressed patient's brain to induce seizures, hopefully relieving the severe depression.

The technique is still in use today, but with many different adaptations to decrease the harm to the patient.

In the past, the patient would be fully awake for the procedure, awake as jolts of electricity were pumped through their head. Today they are under anesthesia and completely unaware.

In prior years the induced seizure would cause a body to thrash forcefully, sometimes to the point of breaking bones. Today muscle relaxants are used and the body lies still.

Sometimes patients would receive ETC for punishment, for acting out, or at the staff's whims. Today, the patient must consent to the procedure.*


Electroconvulsive Therapy In The Past

Student Nurses in my program are required to assist with this procedure for an entire day during our psych rotation.

I am terrified of assisting with this procedure, and I don't quite know why.

As we toured the Electroconvulsive Therapy Suite yesterday it was as if a cold, metallic vise was compressing my chest, preventing the exchange of air.

I think tomorrow I will know why this therapy leaves me so panic-stricken.

Check back then.

*Unless the patient is declared mentally incompetent, and a judge and medical professionals concur that ECT is indicated for this patient.