electroconvulsive therapy

noun

Definition of electroconvulsive therapy

: electroshock therapy

See electroconvulsive therapy defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of electroconvulsive therapy from the Web

The committee should also encourage greater use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

— d. j. jaffe, National Review, "The Way Forward on Federal Mental Health Policy," 18 Dec. 2017
These conclusions miss key clues, Farah says, such as how Hemingway's condition actually worsened after receiving normally curative electroconvulsive therapy, a contradiction that inspired him to start writing his book.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Multiple Concussions May Have Sped Hemingway’s Demise, a Psychiatrist Argues," 25 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'electroconvulsive therapy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of electroconvulsive therapy

1943

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

electroconvulsive therapy

noun

medical Definition of electroconvulsive therapy

: the treatment of mental illness and especially depression by the application of electric current to the head of a usually anesthetized patient that induces unconsciousness and convulsive seizures in the brain —abbreviation ECT — called also electric shock, electric shock therapy, electroshock therapy