The use of low intensity electrical stimulation to the auricles in psychiatric patients.

The regulated passage of an intense convulsion producing electrical current through the brain as in Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) is an accepted modality of psychiatric therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a brief cyclic electrical current to both auricles. The current was tolerable, nonconvulsive in nature and self-administered by the patients at home. The data indicates the procedure proved a very potent method for the control of mental depression, anxiety-depression and delusional states. In the majority of cases, it completely eliminated, for many months after treatment, the need for psychiatric or drug supportive therapy.