E.C.T. in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Convulsive therapy as a form of treatment for schizophrenia originated very soon after insulin coma treatment and the induction of convulsions by an electric current was first used by Cerletti and Bini in 1938. For many years insulin comas were regarded as the treatment of choice, although E.C.T. was recognized as having some value, particularly in catatonic conditions. In the last eight years the advent of effective chemical therapy with the tranquillizers has tended to overshadow the value of any other form of treatment.