The Pros and Cons of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Essay example --

Electroconvulsive therapy, also known as electroconvulsive therapy, is a medical checkup procedure that is used in the treatment of mental illness. In ECT, a small electrical impulse is sent through the brain, resulting in an short transport. Though the process is generally effective, modern science is unaware of the story behind ECTs success. Its history is filled with a large amount of soil and the use of ECT as a therapy is still debated today. ECT has evolved to a point where its beneficial effectuate can be maximized and its adverse effects can be minimized through proper administration.The ancient Romans were the prime(prenominal) to use electricity to treat disease several thousand days ago however, electrical medicine has improved and has been utilized in the forms predating ECT in a relatively short amount of time. In the 16th, 17th, and eighteenth centuries, doctors began to notice that giving people camphor could cure lunacy (Abrams, 2002). The doctors noticed that when administering camphor orally, it caused seizures, and upon vigilant up, were in a rational state (Abrams, 2002). In fact, in 1798, a German scientist reported that 80% of manic patients that were treated with camphor and had seizures, were cured (Abrams, 2002). As medical and technological advances occurred, so did the use of inducing a seizure to cure mental illness. In 1934, a scientist was able to bring a schizophrenic patient, who had been on a hunger strike and had not move in four years, to recovery through a seizure that had been brought on by camphor (Abrams, 2002). And, thus, convulsive therapy was born (Abrams, 2002). By the end of the year, this scientist published results of the resembling action given to twenty-six schizophrenics, ten patients were cured, thirteen had no re... ...ll be given. Even as ECTs use fades out, the impacts of the research will lead to necessary, and important, scientific findings. Works CitedAbrams, Richard. Electroconvulsive Therapy. Oxford Oxford UP, 2002. Print.Dahl, Melissa. Shock Therapy Makes a Quiet Comeback. Msnbc.com. 6 Aug. 2008. Web. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Benefits & Side Effects. WebMD. 1 Mar. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.Fitzgerald, Paul. Its Time to Move on from ECTs Shocking past. The Conversation In-depth Analysis, Research, watchword and Ideas from Leading Academics and Researchers. 29 Sept. 2011. Web. 8 Nov. 2014.Staff, whitethorno Clinic. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). Mayo Clinic. 9 July 2010. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy During Pregnancy -- Miller 45 (5) 444 -- Hosp Community Psychiatry. Psychiatric Services. May 1991. Web. 8 Nov. 2014.