Electroshock Therapy

Throughout history, electroshock therapy (electroconvulsive therapy) has had various reasons as to why it was used. The main reason for its use was for patients who were suffering from severe depression and mania (Mayo Clinic). The treatment would involve sticking 2 electrodes onto the temples of the patient and shooting variating strengths of electric shocks into their brain. The goal was to induce a brief seizure to the patient and basically reprogram their brain, in order to rid them of their melancholic mind. There are some possible side effects that can accompany this procedure, including memory loss or confusion (Wikial). When the testing for this treatment first began, it was tested originally on dogs. They would stick on electrode into the mouth of the dog, and the other end into the anus (Suleman). They would then send jolts of electricity between the two electrodes, inducing a seizure in order basically restart the patient's brain. The first recorded case of electroshock therapy being used on a human was on a 39-year-old schizophrenic man in 1938. They took the man and hooked up the machine to his head, proceeded to send 110 volts of electricity for .2 seconds and successfully induced a seizure. This initial test resulted in a success, allowing this man to be ridded of his schizophrenic mind and return back to his wife and job. In more recent years, electroshock therapy has been used in films to demonstrate a way to erase the minds of people. The most notable example of this can be seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Bucky Barnes. When he was captured by Hydra, they would use this electroshock technique to remove his past memories and control his mind to do their bidding. These ideologies are why this technique was used with dealing with melancholic people. The scientists wanted to remove these thoughts from the minds of the melancholy people and try to "normalize" them. This therapy was used to physically reprogram the minds of the patients, altering how they think and act.