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Published Online: March 1946

COMPLICATIONS IN ELECTRIC SHOCK THERAPY

LOUIS LOWINGER and JAMES H. HUDDLESONAuthors Info & Affiliations

Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 102, Number 5

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.102.5.594

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Abstract

Therapeutic electric shocks produce some reversible cortical changes, probably together with some irreversible neuronal degeneration and gliosis. The typical memory losses are generally recoverable, and the diversified EEG disturbances tend to disappear in several months.

According to reports in the literature, the neuronal discharge may have other effects than the intended grand mal: cardiac arrest, autonomic disorders, status epilepticus, or manic delirium.

Regardless of operating technique, reported rate of compression fracture of a vertebral body vary from 0.5 percent of cases, to 20 percent with routine X-raying. Many compressions will remain undiscovered unless spines are routinely X-rayed post-shock. Compression spinal fractures are clinically inconsequential. The humerus, or more rarely some other bony structure, is occasionally fractured; to these instances the technique of shocking seems relevant.

Dislocation at the shoulder or mandibular joint should be technically preventable.

Arterial hypertension may be aggravated by electroshock, and myocardial insufficiencies can lead to a fatal outcome. Curare attenuates the convulsive violence but may add new dangers; its drawbacks are still under scrutiny.

Aspiration during the coma has been deemed responsible for complicating lung abscesses. Liability to pulmonary complications probably has other unknown causes. Post-shock pneumonias have not always been charged to the therapy. The published mortality rates appear over-optimistic.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 102 • Number 5 • March 1946

Pages: 594 - 598

PubMed: 21026841

History

Published in print: March 1946

Published online: 1 April 2006

Authors

Details

LOUIS LOWINGER

Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, Veterans Facility, Northport, L. I., N. Y.

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JAMES H. HUDDLESON

Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, Veterans Facility, Northport, L. I., N. Y.

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COMPLICATIONS IN ELECTRIC SHOCK THERAPY

Abstract

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