THE EFFECT OF ELECTRIC SHOCK THERAPY UPON CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PRESSURE, PROTEIN AND CELLS
JAMES S. L. JACOBS M. D.1
1 The Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute, University of Wisconsin.
The cerebrospinal fluid protein and cell content and pressure was obtained before, during and after a series of electric shock treatments performed upon a group of 21 psychotics.
In only one case, a diabetic, hypertensive, arteriosclerotic woman, was a significant change noted in protein and cellular constituents. This occurred after the first shock treatment and disappeared within 10 days after 5 subsequent treatments.
Occasional elevations of cerebrospinal fluid pressure were noted. These could be correlated with the patients' psychomotor status.
It is concluded that the cerebrospinal fluid protein and cell contents should be ascertamed, before and after electric shock treatment, in patients who exhibit significant degrees of arteriosclerotic or hypertensive vascular disease.
