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Published Online: February 1949

THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTROCONVULSIVE TREATMENT ON BLOOD SUGAR, TOTAL NUMBER OF LEUCOCYTES AND LYMPHOCYTES

KARL STERN, BRIGITTE A. ASKONAS, and ANDREA M. CULLENAuthors Info & Affiliations

Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 105, Number 8

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.105.8.585

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Abstract

The changes in blood sugar level, leucocyte count, and absolute lymphocyte count were studied in patients undergoing electric shock therapy. The blood sugar and white blood cell response to the injection of adrenalin was observed in 4 subjects.

In all cases electric shock was associated with leucocytosis and lymphocytosis, and in the majority of cases (28 out of 34) a hyperglycemia was observed. The values returned to normal within an hour of treatment. On mathematical evaluation the findings were seen to be statistically significant.

The type of response was not correlated to the underlying psychiatric conditions; where a series of treatments was followed in one single individual, the pattern of response was maintained throughout, irrespective of change in the psychiatric condition of the patient.

The hyperglycemia appeared to be the result of autonomic stimulation, while the leucocytosis and lymphocytosis seemed due, at least in part, to the mechanical effect of muscular contraction.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 105 • Number 8 • February 1949

Pages: 585 - 588

PubMed: 18108317

History

Published in print: February 1949

Published online: 1 April 2006

Authors

Affiliations

KARL STERN

The Gerontologic Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University. This study was aided by a grant from the National Research Council of Canada.

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BRIGITTE A. ASKONAS

The Gerontologic Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University. This study was aided by a grant from the National Research Council of Canada.

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ANDREA M. CULLEN

The Gerontologic Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University. This study was aided by a grant from the National Research Council of Canada.

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THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTROCONVULSIVE TREATMENT ON BLOOD SUGAR, TOTAL NUMBER OF LEUCOCYTES AND LYMPHOCYTES

Abstract

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