According to Harding, what is the history of electroshock therapy, and is it painful?

According to Harding, what is the history of electroshock therapy, and is it painful?

• A. It originated when two psychiatrists at a slaughterhouse observed that a blow to the head could trigger a cow seizure; it is painful but believed beneficial.
• B. It originated as a gentle therapy with no side effects.
• C. It originated when two psychiatrists at a slaughterhouse observed that a blow to the head would induce a cow seizure; it is not painful but causes hallucinations.
• D. It originated as a random technique with no historical basis.

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is the origin story of electroconvulsive therapy and whether it is painful. Harding describes that electroshock therapy began when two psychiatrists at a slaughterhouse noticed that a blow to the cow’s head could trigger a seizure. This observation sparked the idea of deliberately inducing seizures in humans as a treatment. On the pain aspect, the modern procedure is not painful because it is performed under anesthesia with muscle relaxants, so the patient is unconscious during the treatment. Afterward, some people may experience headaches, muscle soreness, or temporary memory disturbances, and in rare cases there can be perceptual disturbances that feel like hallucinations, but there is no conscious pain during the procedure.

The main idea being tested is the origin story of electroconvulsive therapy and whether it is painful. Harding describes that electroshock therapy began when two psychiatrists at a slaughterhouse noticed that a blow to the cow’s head could trigger a seizure. This observation sparked the idea of deliberately inducing seizures in humans as a treatment. On the pain aspect, the modern procedure is not painful because it is performed under anesthesia with muscle relaxants, so the patient is unconscious during the treatment. Afterward, some people may experience headaches, muscle soreness, or temporary memory disturbances, and in rare cases there can be perceptual disturbances that feel like hallucinations, but there is no conscious pain during the procedure.