The Cadaver's Lessons

Charged: Inside Electroconvulsive Therapy

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Charged: Inside Electroconvulsive Therapy

Medicine has always been willing to push boundaries.
And some treatments carry scars long after the science evolves.

Welcome to The Cadaver’s Lesson, a podcast exploring the strange, fascinating, and unsettling history of medicine. In this episode, we trace the evolution of ECT from its earliest, often brutal applications to modern practices that prioritize patient safety. Along the way, we discuss why ECT became so controversial, how media portrayals cemented its reputation, and why—despite everything—it remains one of the most effective treatments for severe, treatment-resistant depression, often producing rapid symptom improvement.

The conversation also explores the science of the brain itself, and how this knowledge has opened the door to emerging treatments like Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).

New episodes drop Mondays, with companion historical case episodes on Fridays.
Follow along, stay curious, and remember—
Progress demands accountability.

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Class is dismissed.

📚 References 

  1. Gazdag, G., & Ungvari, G. S. (2019). Electroconvulsive therapy: 80 years old and still going strong. World Journal of Psychiatry, 9(1), 1–6.
  2. Cadogan, M. (2025, September 26). History of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). LITFL.
  3. de Mangoux, G. C., Amad, A., Quilès, C., Schürhoff, F., & Pignon, B. (2022). History of ECT in schizophrenia: From discovery to current use. Schizophrenia Bulletin Open, 3(1), sgac053.
  4. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) [Book chapter]. In StatPearls. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
  5. Electroconvulsive therapy overview [Book chapter]. In StatPearls. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
  6. Clinical indications for ECT [Book chapter]. In StatPearls. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
  7. Mechanisms and effects of ECT [Book chapter]. In StatPearls. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
  8. Deep brain stimulation in psychiatric treatment [Article]. Frontiers in Neuroscience.
  9. Historical perspectives on ECT [Book chapter]. In StatPearls. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
  10. Ethical considerations in psychiatric treatments [Book chapter]. In StatPearls. National Center for Biotechnology Information.