Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impotence during electric shock therapy

  • Published:
The Psychiatric Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Sexual impotence developed following electric shock therapy in four previously virile male patients.

Satisfactory recovery from the impotence occurred within six to 10 weeks following the last treatment.

Possible interpretations are discussed which relate the impotence to cerebral injury, to change in endocrine functions, or to a combination of these factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kalinowsky, L. B., and Hoch, P. H.: Shock treatments and other somatic procedures in psychiatry. Grune and Stratton. New York. 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Rosvold, H. E.: The effects of electroconvulsive shocks on gestation and maternal behavior. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol., 42:118, 1949.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rosvold, H. E.: The effects of electroconvulsive shocks on gestation and maternal behavior. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol., 42:207, 1949.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hemphill, R. E.; MacLeod, L. D.; and Reiss, M.: Changes in the output of 17-ketosteroids after shock treatment, prefrontal leucotomy, and other procedures. J. Ment. Sci., 88:554, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hoaglund, H.; Malamud, W.; Kaufman, I. C.; and Pincus, G.: Changes in the electroencephalogram and in the excretion of 17-ketosteroids accompanying electroshock therapy of agitated depression. Psychosom. Med., 8:246, 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mikkelson, W. P., and Hutchens, T. T.: Lymphopenia following electrically-induced convulsions in male psychotic patients. Endocrinol., 42:394 1948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Michael, S. T.: Adaptation to brief stress. The blood level of leucocytes and adrenal function in epilepsy, electrically-induced convulsions, and after injection of epinephrine. Yale J. Biol. Med., 22:71, 1949.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Altschule, M. D.; Altschule, L. H.; and Tillotson, K. J.: Changes in leucocytes of the blood in man after electrically-induced convulsions. Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat., 62:624, 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Parsons, E. H.; Gildea, E. F.; Ronzoni, Ethel; and Hulbert, S. Z.: Comparative lymphocytic and biochemical responses of patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders to electroshock, insulin shock, and epinephrine. Am. J. Psychiat., 105:573, 1949.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Stern, K.; Askonas, Brigitte A.; and Cullen, Andrea M.: The influence of electroconvulsive treatment on blood sugar, total number of leucocytes and lymphocytes. Am. J. Psychiat. 105:585, 1949.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Altschule M. D.; Ascoli, I.; and Tillotson, K. J.: Extracellular fluid and plasma volumes in depressed patients given electric shock treatment. Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat., 62:618, 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Delay, J.; Gendrot, J. A.; and Renard, M.: Installation transitoire d'un diabète insipide et aggravation d'une maladie de Basedow à la suite de l'electro-choc. Ann. Med. Psychol., 107:173, 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Stier, E.: Schädigung der sexuellen Funktionen durch Kopftrauma. Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. 64:145, 1938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Fleck, U.: Über sexuelle Störungen nach Hirnerschütterungen. Ztsch. f. d. ges. Neurol. u. Psychiat., 165:318, 1939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Rojas, L.: Impotencia sexual post-traumatica. Actas Lusoespan. neurol. psiquiat., 6:43, 1947.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Beach, Frank A.: A review of physiological and psychological studies of sexual behavior in mammals. Physiol. Rev., 27:240, 1947.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hemphill, R. E.: Return of virility after leucotomy. Lancet, 2:345, 1944.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Masserman, J. H., and Jacques, Mary G.: Effects of cerebral electroshock on experimental neuroses in cats. Am. J. Psychiat., 104:92, 1947.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York State Psychiatric Institute, 722 West 168th Street, New York, N. Y.

    S. T. Michael M. D.

Authors
  1. S. T. Michael M. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Read at the downstate interhospital conference of the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, April 11 and 12, 1950.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Michael, S.T. Impotence during electric shock therapy. Psych Quar 25, 24–31 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01584259

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01584259

Keywords

Search

Navigation