Harold A. Sackeim

Dr. Harold A. Sackeim is an American psychologist and former proponent of electroconvulsive therapy. He has been chief of the department of biological psychiatry at New York State Psychiatric Institute and professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University. Sackeim is co-author of more than 200 publications relating to ECT, (electroshock therapy).

In 2007, Dr. Sackeim, who has been called 'The Pope of ECT' by his critics, reversed his position on electroshock therapy by publishing study results in Neuropsychopharmacology which followed 250 electroshock patients in New York City hospitals. The study found that bilateral electroshock (the most commonly used) does cause permanent amnesia, as patients have long claimed, and results in mental impairment, especially among women and elderly patients.

See also


 * Electroconvulsive therapy controversy