Cardiovascular Disturbances and Their Management in Modified Electrotherapy for Psychiatric Illness

Abstract

CARDIOVASCULAR strain produced in psychiatric electrotherapy (electroconvulsive therapy) is largely manifested by marked paroxysmal rises in the arterial and venous pressures and by disturbances in the initiation and conduction of the cardiac impulse.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10} These disturbances, which may result in death, have tended to limit the use of this treatment in elderly and frail patients, and in those with cardiovascular disease.There is substantial evidence that the leading cause of death in electrotherapy is failure in the cardiovascular system and also that the risk of death is greatly increased in older patients. This has been best presented in the authoritative report . . .