Attempted self-administration of electroconvulsive therapy.
Rarely, a misguided or delusional patient will attempt to self-administer a relatively more invasive form of medical or surgical treatment. I believe this report to be the first described case of an attempt to self-administer ECT. A patient with schizoaffective disorder reported benefits from regularly applied electric shocks modeled on previously administered ECT and delivered by a modified electric livestock fence. Such a practice exposes the patient to the risk of a variety of injuries.
Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912.
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Bishop
D004597:Electroshock / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods*