The effect of electric convulsion therapy on the circulating concentrations of pituitary hormones, cortisol and cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

In order to evaluate the effect of electroconvulsive therapy on the human pituitary-adrenal function, serial plasma samples were assayed for FSH, LH, TSH, HGH, ACTH, cortisol and cyclic AMP before and after nine shocks in five subjects. A prominent finding was the rapid stimulation of the ACTH-cortisol production in all subjects, while no consistent changes in FSH, LH, TSH, HGH or cyclic AMP were found.