Electric Acupuncture Convulsive Therapy

Abstract

In 150 schizophrenic patients, a comparative investigation between electric acupuncture convulsive therapy (EACT) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) showed that the current used for eliciting a convulsion in EACT was only 3.6% of that for ECT when the electrodes were placed at acupoints Baihui and Renzhong. EACT is a modification of ECT in which stimulating currents are passed through acupuncture needle electrodes inserted in midline positions. In this study, the efficacy of EACT was better, the somatic and visceral reactions milder, and the incidence of spine fracture and changes in EEG and in memory were less than in ECT. The clinical efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy is seen to depend on changes in midline brain structures.