Does Electroshock Therapy Cure Depression?
Electroshock therapy, or electro convulsive therapy (ECT) works by administering an electrical current to the brain, which induces a convulsion or seizure of the nerve cells in the brain. This is a procedure done under general anesthesia to treat severe incidences of depression, or incidences of psychotic behavior that might be manifested by bipolar condition. Unlike in films where “shock therapy” if often depicted as a thing forced on patients, this is not the case. There are only a few reasons why electroshock therapy might be used without patient consent, including depression so severe that a person is at constant risk for suicide or is no longer eating or drinking, and usually if the person will not or does not respond to drug treatment for their condition.
