Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Also
known as: Electroshock therapy
What is
it?
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a procedure
that uses an electrical current to stimulate the
brain to release chemicals, called
neurotransmitters, that improve mood.
Who
needs this procedure?
People
suffering from severe depression may be treated
with electroconvulsive therapy when their
depression is placing their own lives or the lives
of others in danger. This includes thoughts of
suicide, refusal to eat, inability to sleep
(insomnia), or feelings of wanting to hurt others.
It may also be used to treat people who are
severely depressed, but cannot take or do not
respond to antidepressant medications. The brain
has a complex system of neurotransmitters that
produce chemicals that transfer signals from nerve
cell to nerve cell. A person who is severely
depressed may have an imbalance of certain
neurotransmitters that affect mood and feelings of
well being.
How do
I prepare for this procedure?
To
prepare for electroconvulsive therapy, you will
receive a thorough physical examination to
determine if you can safely receive the treatment
and the anesthesia that is given before it. The
doctor will explain each step in the procedure,
including its risks and benefits, and will give
you directions to follow before your procedure.
This includes whether you may eat or drink
anything right before treatment, and whether you
may take your regular medications. He or she may
order some diagnostic tests, such as blood tests
and a test of heart function called an
electrocardiogram.
How is
this procedure performed?
Patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy are
given general anesthesia so they are in a state
much like sleep and do not feel any pain during
the procedure. The anesthesia, as well as a muscle
relaxant, is given through a vein in the hand or
arm. This is called an intravenous (IV) line. Your
vital signs, such as heart rate, blood oxygen, and
blood pressure, are monitored throughout the
procedure. Small, round sensors are placed in a
number of locations on your head. Some of these
sensors measure your brain activity during the
treatment, and the others are electrodes, which
conduct a low voltage electrical current that is
applied for only one to two seconds. This current
causes a seizure, which is a disturbance in the
brain’s electrical activity. While you may
associate a seizure with uncontrolled body
movements, medication given through the IV keeps
the body relaxed. When controlled during
electroconvulsive therapy, the seizure causes the
brain to release chemicals that have a positive
effect on the mood of a person with severe
depression. You will wake up around 10 to 15
minutes after the procedure is complete.
What
can I expect after the procedure?
When
the treatment is over, you will go to an area
called a recovery room, where your heart rate and
blood pressure will be monitored until the effects
of the anesthesia are gone. After the procedure,
you may feel slightly confused, very tired, and
may experience some temporary short-term memory
loss. Some people feel a little sick in their
stomachs, called nausea, from the anesthesia. You
may have a headache or feel some muscle soreness.
Patients usually require a series of treatments,
which can be given during a hospital stay, or on
an outpatient basis. Treatments are given every
other day by a mental health professional called a
psychiatrist. Most patients receive between 6 and
12 treatments.
Self-care tips
Electroconvulsive therapy is an extremely
effective and safe treatment for severe
depression. Your electroconvulsive therapy
treatments may be followed with antidepressant
medications and/or psychotherapy. It is important
to follow your doctor’s instructions for follow-up
treatment to successfully relieve your depression.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
|
