Insulin Shock Therapy for Schizophrenia

Insulin shock therapy (IST), also known as insulin coma therapy, is a controversial treatment that was used for schizophrenia from the 1930s to the 1950s.

This treatment involves the injection of insulin to produce hypoglycemia, which results in a coma-like state that lasts for several hours.

The purpose of this treatment was to provide relief to individuals who had schizophrenia, as it was believed to have a calming effect on the mind. However, this treatment is not commonly used today due to its many side effects and risks.

History of Insulin Shock Therapy

The use of insulin in the treatment of schizophrenia dates back to the early 20th century when psychiatrists observed that individuals with diabetes who also had schizophrenia appeared to have fewer symptoms of their mental illness when their blood sugar levels were low.

This observation led to the development of insulin shock therapy by the Viennese psychiatrist Manfred Sakel in 1927.

Sakel believed that inducing a coma-like state through the use of insulin would allow the brain to heal itself by reducing brain activity. This was based on the theory that schizophrenia was caused by overactive brain cells.

IST quickly gained popularity in the United States and Europe as a treatment for schizophrenia, and by the 1940s, it was estimated that over 50,000 patients had undergone this treatment.

How Insulin Shock Therapy Works

Insulin shock therapy involves the injection of insulin to produce hypoglycemia, which results in a coma-like state that lasts for several hours.

The patient is given a high dose of insulin, which causes their blood sugar levels to rapidly drop.

As a result, the patient becomes disoriented, confused, and agitated before eventually losing consciousness. The coma-like state lasts for several hours, during which time the patient’s brain activity decreases significantly.

The goal of IST is to provide relief to individuals who have schizophrenia by calming their minds.

It was believed that the coma-like state induced by IST allowed the brain to rest and heal itself by reducing brain activity. However, the effectiveness of IST in treating schizophrenia has been highly debated.

Side Effects and Risks of Insulin Shock Therapy

IST is associated with many side effects and risks, including the following:

• Death:

This therapy can cause death in some patients, either due to the hypoglycemia itself or due to other complications such as cardiac arrest.

• Brain damage:

IST can cause brain damage in some patients, especially if the coma-like state is prolonged or if the blood sugar levels drop too low.

• Memory loss:

It can also cause memory loss in some patients, which may be permanent.

• Psychosis:

IST can cause psychosis in some patients, which may be permanent.

• Convulsions:

it can lead to convulsions in some patients, which can be life-threatening.

Due to these risks and side effects, IST is no longer commonly in use as a treatment for schizophrenia.

Why was insulin shock therapy banned?

Insulin shock therapy (IST) was not banned per se, but it is no longer commonly used today as a treatment for schizophrenia due to its many side effects and risks.

The use of IST for schizophrenia peaked in the 1940s and 1950s, but it gradually fell out of favor in the 1960s and 1970s as other treatments, such as antipsychotic medication, became more widely available.

There were several reasons why IST fell out of favor and is no longer commonly used today:

• Safety concerns:

IST is associated with many side effects and risks, including death, brain damage, memory loss, psychosis, and convulsions. These risks were not well understood at the time IST was first used and were only discovered later.

• Lack of evidence:

While IST was once believed to be an effective treatment for schizophrenia, its effectiveness has been highly debated. Many studies have found that IST may have had a placebo effect rather than a therapeutic effect.

• Alternative treatments:

Today, there are many alternative treatments available for schizophrenia that are generally safer and more effective than IST.

These treatments include antipsychotic medication, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, social skills training, and family therapy.

• Ethical concerns:

The use of IST has been criticized for its potentially harmful effects and for the lack of informed consent given to patients who underwent the treatment.

Today, there are strict ethical guidelines in place for the use of experimental treatments, and IST would likely not meet these guidelines.

In summary, IST is no longer commonly used today as a treatment for schizophrenia due to its many side effects and risks, lack of evidence, availability of alternative treatments, and ethical concerns.

While it was once believed to be an effective treatment, its use has declined over time, and it is not considered a standard of care for the treatment of schizophrenia today.

Alternatives to Insulin Shock Therapy

There are many alternatives to IST for the treatment of schizophrenia, including the following:

• Antipsychotic medication:

Antipsychotic medication is the most common treatment for schizophrenia today. These medications work by reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia by blocking the action of dopamine in the brain.

• Psychotherapy:

Psychotherapy can be used in combination with medication to treat schizophrenia. It involves talking with a mental health professional to develop coping strategies and manage symptoms.

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT):

ECT is a treatment that involves the use of electric shocks to induce a seizure. It is used for individuals who have not responded to other treatments.

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS):

TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It is effective in treating symptoms of depression and has shown promise in the treatment of schizophrenia.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT):

CBT is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It can be effective in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia.

• Social skills training:

Social skills training can help individuals with schizophrenia learn how to interact with others and improve their communication skills.

• Family therapy:

Family therapy can help family members learn how to better support their loved ones with schizophrenia and improve family communication.

Insulin shock therapy vs ECT for Schizophrenia:

In summary, both insulin shock therapy and electroconvulsive therapy are treatments for schizophrenia that use anesthesia and can cause memory loss and seizures.

However, they differ in the type of stimulation used (chemical vs electrical), duration and frequency of treatment, side effects, and use today. Insulin shock therapy is rare today due to its many risks and side effects, while electroconvulsive therapy is still in use as a treatment for severe depression and certain other conditions.

Conclusion

Insulin shock therapy was once a popular treatment for schizophrenia, but it is no longer in use now due to its many side effects and risks.

While the theory behind IST was that it would calm the mind by reducing brain activity, its effectiveness in treating schizophrenia has been highly debated.

Today, there are many alternative treatments available, including antipsychotic medication, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, social skills training, and family therapy.

These treatments are generally safer and more effective than IST and are the standard of care for the treatment of schizophrenia today.