In this readable and informative book, Dr. Max Fink draws on over 50 years of clinical experience to demonstrate that electroconvulsive therapy is a safe, painless, and often life-saving treatment for numerous emotional and mental disorders as well as some movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. The book tackles such questions as: For whom is electroshock effective? How is it administered? What are its risks? How long does the treatment take? Is it a cure? These questions are answered in an easy-to-read fashion, by a world leader in education and research. This extensively revised paperback has updated discussions of the history and mechanisms of ECT and brand-new chapters on brain stimulation, ethics, and the use of ECT in children. The author shows how anesthesia and muscle relaxation techniques have refined ECT, reducing discomfort and risks to much lower levels than that of psychiatric drugs. The book also includes case studies that address the criticisms of this treatment and it shows why ECT may be the best choice for many people suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, and other ailments.