Increased susceptibility to the epileptic effects of alcohol withdrawal following periodic electroconvulsive shocks.

There was a progressive intensification (kindling) of the motor seizure pattern when electroconvulsive shocks (ECSs) were administered to rats at 3-day intervals, but not when the inter-ECS interval was 1 hr. Similarly, the incidence of convulsive symptoms elicited by subsequent alcohol exposure and withdrawal was a function of the number of antecedent ECSs administered at 3-day, but not at 1-hr, intervals. Significant ECS-produced intensification of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome persisted for 3 weeks following ten periodic ECSs and occurred even when the motor seizures elicited by the antecedent ECSs were pharmacologically suppressed.