APA Dictionary of Psychology

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in which the electric current is modified significantly to decrease the duration of stimulus needed to produce a seizure. Some researchers and clinicians claim that this technique not only achieves satisfactory clinical results comparable to those of standard ECT but also results in a shorter duration of confusion or memory impairment than occurs with the standard treatment (see ECT-induced amnesia). Also called brief stimuli therapy; brief stimulus technique.