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electroshock therapy

electroshock therapy

6 5.1
A medical treatment that uses a strong electric current through the brain to treat serious mental illness
  • noun
  • /ɪˌlɛktroʊˈʃɑk ˈθɛrəpi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : terapia electroconvulsiva
  • The doctor explained that electroshock therapy could be beneficial for her severe depression.
  • undergo electroshock therapy
  • give electroshock therapy
  • try electroshock therapy

Examples

Synonyms

electroshock
vselectroshock therapy
  • Specialized
16 7.5

A medical treatment that uses a strong electric current through the brain to cause seizures to treat serious mental illness

is the formal medical phrase describing that application
shock therapy
vselectroshock therapy
  • Specialized
8 5.1

A treatment that uses electric shocks to treat severe mental illness

is restricted to electrical current only, not chemical methods
ECT
vselectroshock therapy
  • Specialized
7 7.0

A medical treatment that sends a strong electric shock to the brain to treat severe depression

is the full clinical label for that treatment
shock treatment
vselectroshock therapy
  • Specialized
4 5.8

A medical procedure that uses electric shocks to the brain to help severe mental illness

is the clinical term focusing on the medical procedure specifically
electroconvulsive therapy
vselectroshock therapy
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A medical treatment using brief electric shocks to the brain to reduce severe depression symptoms

is the common clinical name for the same procedure
electro
vselectroshock therapy
  • Informal
1 8.9

A medical treatment that sends small electric pulses to the brain for severe depression or other serious mental illness

is the full clinical expression used in medical contexts

How Intense

electroshock therapy
  • Specialized
6 5.1
electrosleep
  • Archaic
9.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

electroshock + therapy

The meaning 'a medical treatment using electric currents' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'electroshock' (electric shock applied for treatment) with 'therapy' (medical treatment). Although somewhat technical, the compound follows transparent English composition patterns and has clear parallels in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely infer the overall meaning.

Etymology

Electroshock therapy is very direct: doctors used a short electric shock to the brain to change how it worked. That's why the name means a medical 'treatment' using electricity to help serious mental illness.