[1][2] The origins of interventional psychiatry can be traced to the historical use of procedural treatments for psychiatric disorders, with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) being a notable early example.
Introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and Lucio Bini, ECT involves applying electrical currents to the brain to induce seizures, which can alleviate symptoms of severe depression, catatonia, and other psychiatric conditions.
[3] During the latter half of the 20th century, the rise of psychopharmacology led to a decline in procedural treatments, as medications became the primary mode of treating mental health disorders.
However, the lack of response in some patients to pharmacotherapy renewed interest in procedural treatments, eventually leading to the development of interventional psychiatry as a distinct subspecialty.
Fellows gain experience in patient selection, procedural techniques, and side effect management, along with exposure to emerging treatments and research opportunities.