Cura, castigo? : um estudo sobre a criação da Eletroconvulsoterapia (ECT) e sua utilização em pacientes no estado do Espírito Santo

Abstract

The electroconvulsive therapy was created by observing the symptoms of schizophrenia were often diminished after a seizure, assuming, incorrectly, that schizophrenia and epilepsy could not coexist in the same patient, so that, inducing a seizure, it would be able to rid the patient of schizophrenia. ECT was introduced as psychiatric treatment prior to psychotropics (1950) nowadays known and used. This work aims to put under analysis some differences between the intentions with the creation of electroconvulsive therapy and some of its uses and abuses. In addition to a study of electroconvulsive therapy, it is also a work of subjugation. In this context, the book "Shock Therapy - A History of Eletroconvulsive Treatment in Mental Illness" Edward Shorter and David Healy represented an important bibliography. To bring the discussion to a reality nearest, through the mapping method, suggested by Suely Rolnik, such as field research, were heard four psychiatrists and three " crazy people " who had the experience of electroconvulsive therapy. It was intended to examine the discrepancy between the use of the technique when used according to their protocols, therefore, therapeutically, and when used deliberately without prescriptions clear as possible form of punishment.