Electroconvulsive Therapy

**Semantic type:** Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure

**Definition:** A procedure in which a series of short duration electric currents are passed via electrodes through the brain to cause a controlled seizure for the purpose of treating severe, intractable forms of mental illness, including depression, mania, and catatonia.

**Synonyms:** - ECT - electroconvulsive therapy - electroshock therapy