Experimental control of fractures produced by electroconvulsive shock

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine; and Behavior Research Laboratories, Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center, St. Louis, Missouri

Incidence of fractures following ECS was found to be significantly reduced by placing animals on a water deprivation schedule, thus reducing body weight significantly. Only animals showing ‘clonic-only’, as opposed to tonic-clonic, convulsions developed fractures. Highest incidence of fractures was found to occur after first ECS, incidence tapering off rapidly thereafter. It was concluded that by reducing body weight through water deprivation, as well as manipulating the strength and duration of the convulsing current, incidence of fractures could be kept at a minimum.