Electric stimulation and insulin coma

Summary Observations with nonconvulsive stimulation during insulin coma have been presented. The method is useful in arousing patients from coma, provided that they have not entered a deep phase. Adrenalin and blood sugar responses suggest that activation of the diencephalic pituitary-adrenal axis occurs. The theory that during insulin coma a successive inactivation of phylogenetic layers within the brain takes place is supported by the observations reported here. Therapeutic results suggest a favorable comparison with deep insulin coma, provided a differential and dynamic approach is followed. Complications, such as delayed and protracted coma, have not been encountered. Treatment time is shortened to about two hours, and the average number of treatments is about 40.Read at the 109th annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association at Los Angeles, May 1953.