Effect of Electric Convulsive Therapy and Insulin Shock Therapy on the Pituitary Gonadotropin Production of Psychotic Patients*

Abstract

The profound changes that take place in the function of the pituitary gland after electric convulsive therapy (ECT) and insulin shock therapy (IST) are well-documented in the recent literature. Reiss (1952)l) described that ACTH and TSH were produced and mobilized in remarkably large amounts after ECT. Several reports2s3) published recently tend to confirm his findings. One of the present authors (I.Y.)4) has observed the markedly increased secretion of antidiuretic hormone by the posterior pituitary gland after ECT. There is at present, however, very little information available concerning gonadotropin. The purpose of this paper is to provide some clinical and laboratory data about the urinary gonadotropin excretion of mental patients in the course of electric shock and insulin coma treatments.