The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
Published Online:

Results of the follow up study of 279 patients who received electroshock therapy indicate that this treatment is very effective in the treatment of involutional melancholia and manic-depressive psychosis. The percentage of recoveries reported for this group is slightly less but comparable with that reported one year ago(2).

Manic patients do not hold their recovery as well as those who have an agitated depression. There is no evidence to indicate that electroshock treatments may prevent future psychotic attacks, nor that it might interfere with spontaneous clinical recovery.

Electroshock therapy is not effective in the treatment of schizophrenia. It is of doubtful value in the treatment of psychoneuroses.

Traumatic skeletal injuries may be decreased by the use of intocostrin (Squibb). Cardiac and pulmonary complications, vasomotor collapse, spasticity, subconjunctival hemorrhages may develop. Memory changes always occur to some degree during the course of treatment. These memory defects do not seem to be permanent.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.