Electric shock therapy for mental illness ‘should be banished to history’

THE use of electric shock therapy (ECT) in people with a mental illness should be “banished to the historical rubbish bin” of previous treatments thought to be effective.

It has been likened to treatments such as “rotating chairs, surprise baths and lobotomies”.

A new and comprehensive review of the treatment insists the cost-benefit analysis for ECT was so poor, its use cannot be scientifically justified.