Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical treatment involving the administration of a strong electric current through the brain: This procedure is used to induce controlled convulsions and a brief period of unconsciousness or coma, primarily for treating severe mental health conditions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Electroshock therapy is sometimes used when other treatments for major depression have failed.
  • The doctor recommended a course of electroshock therapy for the patient with severe catatonia.
  • Modern electroshock therapy is conducted under anesthesia and is much safer than in the past.

Advanced Usage

• "to undergo electroshock therapy": to receive this medical treatment.
  • The patient had to undergo electroshock therapy as a last resort.

Variants and Related Words

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (n): The full and more modern clinical term for electroshock therapy.
  • Electroconvulsive therapy is a standard treatment for certain psychiatric disorders.
• Shock therapy (n): A broader, sometimes informal term that can refer to electroshock therapy or other abrupt treatments.
• Electroshock (n): A shortened form sometimes used informally.

Synonyms

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): The preferred clinical synonym.
• Shock treatment: A more general term.

Related Phrases

• Course of ECT: Refers to a series of electroshock therapy treatments administered over time.
  • She completed a full course of ECT and showed significant improvement.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. the administration of a strong electric current that passes through the brain to induce convulsions and coma