Transient organic mental reactions during shock therapy of the psychoses: A clinical study

Summary Recapitulating the above cases, we find that in Case 1, after two months of therapy, protracted coma followed an insulin dosage of 160 units. Previous similar dosage, with identical duration of coma, did not result in a protracted reaction following gavage. The patient had been maintained on a similar or even smaller daily insulin dosage for a considerable time prior to the protracted coma. There was consistent conformity of the electroencephalographic and psychological performances with the clinical status, all three exhibiting simultaneous improvement.In Case 2, following the fifteenth convulsive seizure, induced by 9 1/2 c.c. of metrazol, a clinically organic reaction (confusion, memory defect and disorientation) was correlated with an abnormal electroencephalogram, which became normal as the patient's clinical status returned to normal.Case 3 demonstrated the same correlation.Cases 4 and 5 revealed abnormal brain waves associated with severe memory defect.From the department of psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Hospital. Read at the interhospital conference held at the Utica State Hospital, Utica, N. Y., April 26, 1940.