Insulin Coma Therapy: Induced Comas
Coma Induction with Insulin
Insulin coma therapy involved administering large doses of insulin to induce a hypoglycemic coma. This extreme treatment was used primarily for schizophrenia patients, with the belief that “rebooting” the brain could alleviate symptoms. Patients were given insulin until they fell into a coma and then revived with glucose after several hours.
The Perils of Coma Therapy
In a notorious London asylum, a patient named Edward underwent insulin coma therapy. During one session, Edward failed to awaken from the induced coma as expected. The medical team struggled to revive him, and while he eventually regained consciousness, he was left with severe brain damage and never recovered his previous mental faculties. This tragic outcome highlighted the immense risks and questionable ethics of such a brutal treatment.
