title: ECT and Acu-EST in the treatment of depression.
abstract: This paper presents three brief case histories from a three year study comparing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with acupuncture treatment in functional psychoses. Acupuncture effects were augmented by the simultaneous, non-painful electrical stimulation of eight acupuncture needles. The resulting treatment is called Acupuncture Electric Stimulation Therapy (Acu-EST). Each patient was utilized as her own control, treating exacerbations of depression alternately with ECT and Acu-EST. Acu-EST was not found to be a panacea and did not enable the discontinuation of antidepressant and neuroleptic medication. Individual Acu-EST treatments were often less effective than individual ECT treatments. However, series of Acu-EST did assist in producing significant remissions in depressive symptomatology. Because it did not produce the temporary disabling memory defects which occurred with ECT, Acu-EST was more easily adaptable to outpatient treatment.
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents