Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Treated by Electroconvulsive Therapy: Intractable Pain, Depression, and Bilateral Electrode ECT

An adult female patient without previous history of pain or psychiatric disorder developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy in her left hand & arm after 2 separate injuries & subsequent surgeries. Traditional biomedical therapies were unsuccessful. Several weeks after hospitalization the patient attempted suicide. Electroconvulsive therapy was administered using bilateral lead placement. Over the course of this treatment the pain, vasculature changes, & depression resolved completely. (15 refs.)