Posted by Eddie Sylvano on December 2, 2003, at 9:19:51
Has anyone ever experienced this? Evidently, it wasn't uncommon years ago (the book I'm reading is from the '50s) to give psychotic patients a dose of insulin large enough to make them unconscious, wait a while, then administer glucose to revive them. Upon awakening, the patients were said to be free of psychotic symptoms for an hour or so, during which time talk therapy ensued. This would be done many times a day.
The book didn't explain the mechanisms of action, though starving the brain isn't that complex. It obviously has something to do with the slowing of brain processes, probably those which take the longest to resume regular glucose uptake. It's such an unusual method, I'm surprised I haven't heard of it before. I can only assume this fell out of use long ago.
poster:Eddie Sylvano
thread:285866
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031202/msgs/285866.html