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Electroconvulsive therapy machine
Electroconvulsive therapy machine, CC BY Science Museum/ Science and Society Picture Library
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- Intro
- Museum's Description
- Teacher notes
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This is a very strange looking machine, it looks like part of an aeroplane or boat, certainly not something that would be used on a person, but that’s exactly what this machine was used for.
This is an Electro Convulsive Therapy Machine, it would have been attached to a person through wires that were stuck to their chest or head. Then the machine would create a small electric shock that would travel along the wires and shock the person attached.
It was believed that this short shock could alter the brain and treat some forms of mental illness. This has always been a controversial type of therapy as it can be quite painful for the patient and so when treatment drugs were developed ECT machines largely went out of use. Nowadays we have anesthetic which means that therapies like this aren't painful at all.
Things to think about:
- Can you think of any other medical treatments that use electricity?
- Why do you think there is a dial on the machine?
- Can you think of any other old medical practices that would have been painful for the patient.
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This object is a great way to introduce students to how ideas about mental health have changed over time.
The Science Museum has a great website dedicated to the history of medicine.
The website is actually aimed at GCSE students however the information
they provide could be easily translated into a KS 2-3 lesson.
They have a section dedicated to Electrotherapy as well as the role of technology in medicine.
Additionally, Worcester Medical Museums have a load of great resources for teachers and students about the history of medicine.
The mental health charity Mind have a useful page on the modern uses of ECT.
Teachers can also visit the Science Museum Group learning resources website.This
website brings together learning resources from the four Museums in the
Science Museum Group, including activities, games and videos. Browse
all the resources and discover activities to support a range of
curriculum topics for use in the classroom, in museum galleries and
beyond.
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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a controversial treatment for those of us with mental health problems. ECT machines send electric currents into the brain in timed pulses. This brings on a seizure to try to ‘shock’ a patient out of a severe mental disorder. This type of treatment was first used in the UK in 1940.
This ECT machine may look basic, but it had an important feature for its time in that it’s settings were adjustable. It could deliver electric shocks ranging from 60-150 volts for a pre-set period of time, usually 0.2 seconds.
In 1953, drugs that could treat mental health problems became available. Electroconvulsive therapy had always been controversial so the newly available drugs began to take over as more accepted way of providing relief for patients with mental health problems.
This particular ECT machine went out of use in the 1970s. ECT is still available today, but it is only permitted with the informed, written consent of the patient.
