What is electroconvulsive therapy (ect)?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure used to treat severe depression. It may be used in people who have symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, or suicidal thoughts. It's also used when other treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressant medicines have not worked. And it can be used for other psychiatric and neurological conditions, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

Before ECT, you will get anesthesia to make you sleepy, and you'll get medicines to relax your muscles. Then an electrical current is briefly sent to the brain through electrodes. They are placed on the temples or elsewhere on the head, depending on the condition being treated and the type of ECT. The electrical stimulation, which lasts up to 8 seconds, produces a short seizure. Because of anesthesia, the seizure activity related to ECT does not cause the body to convulse.

It's not known exactly how this brain stimulation helps treat depression. ECT probably works by altering brain chemicals (like medicines do). These chemicals include neurotransmitters like serotonin, natural pain relievers called endorphins, and catecholamines such as adrenaline.

ECT treatments are usually done 2 to 3 times a week for 2 to 3 weeks. Maintenance treatments may be done once each week, tapering down to once each month. They may continue for several months to a year. This will reduce the risk of relapse.

For mental health conditions, ECT is usually given along with medicine, counseling, or both.

Ask your doctor when you can drive after having an ECT treatment.

Studies have shown that ECT is an effective short-term treatment for severe depression. ECT may be used after other treatments have not worked.

In rare cases, ECT may increase blood pressure, cause changes in heart rhythm, or produce seizures that last longer than expected. These physiologic changes typically occur right away after the ECT treatment and can be managed by the health professionals doing the procedure, if needed. Often, though, these changes resolve quickly without treatment.

The risks of untreated, severe depression are often greater than the risks of ECT.

Other side effects of ECT may include headaches, muscle pain, nausea, and short-term and possibly long-term memory problems.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment that sends brief electric pulses to the brain. Experts don't know exactly how ECT helps relieve problems in the brain. But it seems to work by changing brain chemicals.

ECT is used to treat severe depression. It's also used for other conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. It sometimes helps people after other treatments have failed.

For mental health conditions, ECT is usually given along with medicine, counseling, or both.

ECT is used for severe depression and other psychiatric or neurological conditions (such as bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, or schizophrenia).

Sometimes ECT is used for older adults who are taking multiple medicines for other illnesses and who are not able to take additional medicines for depression. And sometimes ECT is used for people who cannot tolerate the side effects of the medicines for depression.

Before ECT, your treatment team gives you medicines to relax your muscles and make you sleep. They place electrodes on your head. When you are asleep, brief electric pulses are sent through the electrodes. This creates a short seizure in the brain. You don't feel or remember it.

ECT usually takes several treatments to work. To start, you will likely have it about 3 times a week. Then, to help maintain the benefit, your doctor may schedule you for weekly or monthly treatments.