Adult Services: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is the controlled
application of a small amount of electrical current to the portion of the brain
that controls sleep, appetite, and self-care patterns. The treatment stimulates
the brain to increase production of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine—nature's
neurotransmitters. Research shows that ECT is a highly effective treatment for
major depression, suicidal patients, mania and schizophrenia. In fact, 85-95
percent of the patients who undergo ECT as a first-line treatment (they have
not tried antidepressant medications) experience dramatic improvement. For those
patients who have failed to improve on antidepressant medications, ECT's success
rate is 65 percent.
ECT brings dramatic even life-saving results
ECT has a higher success rate for severe depression
than any other form of treatment. It can be life saving and produce dramatic
results. For depressed patients, appetite, sleep patterns and self-care patterns
improve almost immediately. Virtually no suicide attempts have been reported
among suicidal patients who have recently undergone ECT treatment. As with any
treatment or medication, you should not expect to undergo ECT once and be cured
forever, although that does occur. For some patients, ongoing maintenance (average
one treatment every six months) is required. For others, relapses may occur
that require additional treatment regiments. Total elimination of medications
such as lithium may not be possible for some patients.
How ECT is administered
ECT is a safe and painless procedure that is
administered by a clinical teal in a hospital setting. The patient is put to
sleep with a short-acting anesthetic. A muscle relaxant is then administered.
Electrodes are placed on the patient's head and a small current is passed through
the brain, for an interval of up to a few seconds. The patient sleeps peacefully
while an electroencephalogram (EEG) monitors the brain's activity and an electrocardiogram
(EKG) monitors the heart rhythm. The clinically induced seizure usually lasts
longer than a minute. The patient is fully awake 10 to 15 minutes after falling
asleep. The usual course of treatment consists of 6-10 sessions, three times
per week, for approximately 2-4 weeks.
Side Effects of ECT
The most common side effects are headache and
muscle soreness upon awakening. The headache will rarely last up to 24 hours
and can be treated with pain relievers. Most patients prefer to sleep for several
hours following treatment. Some patients also experience temporary confusion
or memory loss. These symptoms usually begin to diminish after a few days and
disappear within a month after the course of treatment is concluded.
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