The history of electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the oldest biological treatments in psychiatry. ECT appeared in Europe in the 1930s. During the past century, it underwent several advances, setbacks, and successive adaptations. Despite its stigmatizing media coverage, it maintains its usefulness in current psychiatric clinical practice. This paper aims to provide a summary of the history of ECT, its present state, and its future. It covers the long history of ECT, the requirements for informed consent, most accepted techniques, clinical indications, and required staff training. Additionally, we discuss the uncertain future of ECT in the face of new therapeutic options in modern psychiatry.