Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as electroshock therapy, is the most well recognized form of non-invasive brain stimulation treatment. ECT is a treatment which induces a therapeutic seizure and is considered a safe form of convulsive therapy. It involves a strong electrical current delivered to the brain, that may create changes within the brain’s chemistry.
The National Institute of Mental Health, and the American Psychiatric Association have endorsed ECT as a valuable tool in the treatment of certain psychiatric disorders. It has been shown to be a very effective method at reducing symptoms of severe mental disorders, with tens of thousands of patients treated each year.