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AnushkaP726
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Doubt in RC Tone and Specific detail question

by AnushkaP726 Sun Jul 12, 2020 2:10 pm

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a
controversial psychiatric treatment involving
the induction of a seizure in a patient by pass-
ing electricity through the brain. While ben-
eficial effects of electrically induced seizures
are evident and predictable in most patients,
a unified mechanism of action has not yet
been established and remains the subject of
numerous investigations. ECT is extremely ef-
fective against severe depression, some acute
psychotic states, and mania, though, like many
medical procedures, it has its risks.
Since the inception of ECT in 1938, the
public has held a strongly negative conception
of the procedure. Initially, doctors employed
unmodified ECT. Patients were rendered
instantly unconscious by the electrical current,
but the strength of the muscle contractions
from uncontrolled motor seizures often led to
compression fractures of the spine or damage
to the teeth. In addition to the effect this physi-
cal trauma had on public sentiment, graphic
examples of abuse documented in books and
movies, such as Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest, portrayed ECT as punitive, cruel,
overused, and violative of patients' legal rights.
Modern ECT is virtually unrecognizable
from its earlier days. The treatment is modified
by the muscle relaxant succinylcholine, which
renders muscle contractions virtually nonexis-
tent. Additionally, patients are given a general
anesthetic. Thus, the patient is asleep and fully
unaware during the procedure, and the only
outward sign of a seizure may be the rhythmic
movement of the patient's hand or foot. ECT is
generally used in severely depressed patients
for whom psychotherapy and medication
prove ineffective. It may also be considered
when there is an imminent risk of suicide, since
antidepressants often take several weeks to
work effectively. Exactly how ECT exerts its
effects is not known, but repeated applications
affect several neurotransmitters in the brain,
including serotonin, norepinephrine, and do-
pamine.
ECT has proven effective, but it is not
without controversy. Though decades-old
studies showing brain cell death have been
refuted in recent research, many patients do
report loss of memory for events that occurred
in the days, weeks, or months surrounding the
ECT. Some patients have also reported that
their short-term memories continue to be af-
fected for months after ECT, though some doc-
tors argue that this memory malfunction may
reflect the type of amnesia that sometimes
results from severe depression.

Q. The tone of the passage suggests that the author regards ECT with
(A) conditional support
(B) academic objectivity
(C) mild advocacy
(D) unreserved criticism
(E) increasing acceptance

Q. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
(A) Most severely depressed individuals have suicidal thoughts.
(B) The general public was unaware of the bodily harm caused by unmodified ECT.
(C) Research into the side effects of ECT has only recently begun.
(D) ECT does not benefit individuals with anxiety disorders.
(E) Severe depression can have symptoms unrelated to emotional mood.
Sage Pearce-Higgins
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Re: Doubt in RC Tone and Specific detail question

by Sage Pearce-Higgins Mon Jul 20, 2020 4:10 am

Apologies for the delay in replying to this. Just to check, these problems are taken from chapter 14 of All the Verbal. I'm aware that there's an explanation in that book, so please could you describe what issue or challenge you face with these problems?