Electroconvulsive therapy
for phantom limb pain
by
Rasmussen KG, Rummans TA.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology,
Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW,
Rochester, USA.
rasmussen.keith@mayo.edu
Pain 2000 Mar; 85(1-2):297-9

ABSTRACT

Phantom limb pain is common in amputees. Although several treatments are available, a significant number of patients are refractory. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is usually given to patients with psychiatric disorders such as major depression, has shown efficacy in patients with a variety of pain syndromes occurring along with depression. Two patients are described herein with severe phantom limb pain refractory to multiple therapies, without concurrent psychiatric disorder, who received ECT. Both patients enjoyed substantial pain relief. In one case, phantom pain was still in remission 3.5 years after ECT. It is concluded that phantom limb patients who are refractory to multiple therapies may respond to ECT.

ECT
rTMS
Relapse
Glutamate
ECT v rTMS
Long-term ECT
ECT side-effects
ECT : mechanisms
The Wired Society
ECT and neuropeptides
ECT: how does it work?
ECT, depression and TRH

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