Induction of Anesthesia with Methohexital and Thiopental in Electroconvulsive Therapy

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Abstract
ELECTROCONVULSIVE therapy has become an important psychiatric treatment since its introduction into clinical practice in 1938 by Cerletti and Bini.1 , 2 There is evidence that it is superior to antidepressant drugs as symptomatic therapy for severe depressions.3 , 4 The chief cause of morbidity before the introduction of drug modification of the seizure was frequent vertebral compression fracture.5 , 6 The chief cause of mortality in both drug-modified and unmodified electroconvulsive therapy has been cardiovascular complication.7 8 9 10 Deaths are infrequent (0.01 per cent of treatments), may occur in any age or cardiovascular-risk group and have probably increased in frequency with the use of drug modification.5 , 9 , 10 Using . . .