What is Electroshock Therapy?

            Electroshock therapy is used to treat certain psychiatric disorders through the use of electric current to induce shock. This therapy is generally used in treating severe endogenous depressions and some forms of schizophrenia. The working of this therapy is not clearly understood as yet.

Electroshock Therapy Machine

            U. Cerletti and L. Bini introduced electro convulsive therapy ECT in Rome in 1938 for treating psychiatric disorders. Since then, it has bee widely used to treat manic depressive psychosis and various other types of depressions. In electroshock therapy, two electrodes are placed in approximate positions on the head of the patient and 50 or 60 hertz alternating current at about 70 volts is passed for about 0.1 seconds. There have been modifications and variations in the basic technique. The passage of the current causes an immediate loss of consciousness, and the induction of a convulsive seizure. The treatment is given three times a week for two to six weeks. In some serious cases, the doctor even resorts to two or three treatments in a single day.

Electroshock Therapy

            This therapy can have serious side effects and complications. Hence it should be given to a few selected patients, and with great skill and proper judgment. Although it is a valuable therapeutic method in psychiatry, in certain cases it is not effective and sometimes may make matters worse.

What is LSD?

            LSD is the short form of drug called lysergic acid diethylamide, which is a dangerous hallucinogen with many unfavorable side effects. A Stoll first synthesized this drug, and Albert Hofmann, a Swiss chemist derived its compounds form a fungus called ergot calvicepus purpariea. This fungus is found growing on rye and other grasses.

Drugs

            When a person consumes LSD, there is a marked difference in his behavior. This is probably because of LSD’s property to mimic serotonin in the brain. Because of this property, physicians have used LSD as a psycholtomimetic agent hallucinogen to induce menial states like actual psychotic diseases, mainly, schizophrenia.

            When LSD is consumed, it is quickly absorbed through any mucosal surface and acts within 30 to 60 minutes. It effects usually lost for eight to ten hours. But if a heavy dose is taken, its effects can last for several days. LSD produces two major side effects- prolongation and transient reappearance of the psychotic reaction. Some of the researches conducted in this regard have revealed that its constant use cans cause chromosomal and genetic damage.

            In the 1960s, LSD was proposed for use in the treatment of neurosis. It was also used without much success for treating alcoholism and to alleviate the suffering of terminally ill cancer patients.

            LSD, as well as other hallucinogens like marijuana and cannabis, is now banned drugs, due to their serious adverse effects. These drugs cause changes in though, perception, mood and behavior of the users.

            Drug addiction is common phenomenon in modern times, and this drug is particular has played a destructive role in the lives of educated youth in the society. While those who are addicted to it talk of its role in creativity and expansion of consciousness, the fact remains that it is potentially a dangerous drug that should not be consumed and must be avoided at any cost.