The weird and brilliant innovations that led to electroconvulsive therapy—and the mystery of why it works

When I began considering electroconvulsive therapy, better known as electroshock, I assumed the “shock” part referred to the electrical zap you received. An electrode or two on your head. Some doctor pressing a button. A machine buzzed audibly. Zap, zap. You were shocked. Maybe changed forever. Maybe for good, maybe for ill. Zap, zap. Like a ray gun in a dystopian thriller. And no thriller was more dystopian (I flattered myself) than the anxious depression that had me in agony every waking momen...