ect treatment what to expect

Is ECT worth it?

Is ECT worth it? – The effectiveness of ECT Researchers and healthcare professionals have observed the life-changing and life-saving benefits of electroconvulsive therapy for decades and some of them describe modern ECT as the fastest and most effective way for patients to completely recover from depression.

How do you prepare for ECT?

• The anesthesiologist delivers two drugs through the IV line: anesthesia to put you asleep and a muscle relaxant to minimize muscle contractions during the procedure itself.
• A blood pressure cuff inflates around your ankle to prevent the muscle relaxant from entering the foot. ...
• An oxygen mask is placed over your face. ...

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How many ECT treatments are needed?

Typically the ECT treatment course lasts eight to 12 treatments -- sometimes as few as six, sometimes as many as 15 treatments can occur in a course. Your doctor will determine how many you need depending on your response. After patients have received a course of ECT they're usually placed back on medication.

How successful is ECT?

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What can I expect immediately after ECT?

Although ECT is generally safe, risks and side effects may include: Confusion. Immediately after treatment, you may experience confusion, which can last from a few minutes to several hours. You may not know where you are or why you're there.

How long does ECT recovery take?

The ability to form new memories can be impaired during and after an acute series of ECT treatments but this ability makes a full recovery in about 2 weeks from the last treatment.

How do patients feel after ECT?

In most people, the confusion passes within an hour. You may also have a headache the day of the treatment. A pain reliever, if necessary, usually helps. Other side effects, such as nausea, typically last only for a few hours.

Does electric shock therapy hurt?

No, the ECT procedure isn't painful. ECT involves general anesthesia, which means you're asleep while the procedure is happening. After the procedure, you may have some side effects, such as headache, nausea or sore muscles, but these are all normal.

Can you feel worse after ECT?

ECT can't prevent future depression, or fix any ongoing stresses or problems that are contributing to how you're feeling. Some people have very bad experiences of ECT, for example because they feel worse after treatment or are given it without consent. You might not want to risk the possibility of getting side effects.

Does ECT cause weight gain?

During ECT, all patients increased their caloric intake (280 +/- 180 to 1,510 +/- 60 kcal/day, mean +/- SEM) to exceed their basal energy expenditure; major improvements in their depressive symptoms and weight gain were seen in five of the six patients.

Is ECT worth the risk?

Risk Assessment of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Clinical Routine: A 3-Year Analysis of Life-Threatening Events in More Than 3,000 Treatment Sessions. Background: Extensive research has reported that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be highly effective in approximately 80% of patients suffering from depression.

Can ECT change your personality?

ECT does not change a person's personality, nor is it designed to treat those with just primary “personality disorders.” ECT can cause transient short-term memory — or new learning — impairment during a course of ECT, which fully reverses usually within one to four weeks after an acute course is stopped.

How much memory do you lose with ECT?

Safety: among 7 studies that reported on memory loss, the rate of persistent or permanent memory loss after ECT ranged from 29% to 55%.

How do you prepare for ECT therapy?

What happens during an ECT procedure? Before ECT, patients are asked not to eat or drink from midnight the night before treatment. During the procedure, the patient receives a short acting anesthetic agent which puts the patient to sleep for approximately 5-10 minutes.

Does ECT destroy brain cells?

The review of literature and present evidence suggests that ECT has a demonstrable impact on the structure and function of the brain. However, there is a lack of evidence at present to suggest that ECT causes brain damage.

What is the success rate of ECT?

What is the Success Rate of Electroconvulsive Therapy? ECT is an effective medical treatment option, helping as many as 80-85 percent of patients who receive it. Most patients remain well for many months afterwards.

How often do you get ECT?

In the United States, ECT treatments are generally given two to three times weekly for three to four weeks — for a total of six to 12 treatments. Some doctors use a newer technique called right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy that's done daily on weekdays.

What is ECT used for?

ECT is used to treat: Severe depression, particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis), a desire to commit suicide or refusal to eat. Treatment-resistant depression, a severe depression that doesn't improve with medications or other treatments. Severe mania, a state of intense euphoria, agitation or hyperactivity ...

What is ECT in medical terms?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions.

Why is electroconvulsive therapy used?

Why it's done. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can provide rapid, significant improvements in severe symptoms of several mental health conditions. ECT is used to treat: Severe depression, particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis), a desire to commit suicide or refusal to eat. Treatment-resistant depression, ...

How long after ECT can you drive?

However, some people may be advised not to return to work, make important decisions, or drive until one to two weeks after the last ECT in a series, or for at least 24 hours after a single treatment during maintenance therapy.

Is it safe to take ECT?

Risks. Although ECT is generally safe, risks and side effects may include: Confusion. Immediately after treatment, you may experience confusion, which can last from a few minutes to several hours. You may not know where you are or why you're there. Rarely, confusion may last several days or longer.

What is ECT therapy?

Slice. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as electroshock therapy, is a safe and effective medical procedure that gives your brain electrical stimulation to help with depression, manic-depressive illness and schizophrenia.

How often is ECT given?

ECT is given in a series of treatments, usually three times per week. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t see results right away, because it can take between six and 12 treatments before there are benefits. Your treatment will be complete when there is a sustained response.

How effective is electroconvulsive therapy?

What to Expect from Electroconvulsive Therapy. Slice. The first step in getting ECT is to get a referral from your psychiatrist. The referral cannot come from a primary care physician, psychologist or nurse.

How to refer for ECT?

A referral for ECT must come from your psychiatrist. To refer you for this treatment, your psychiatrist should call 317.962.8940. The referring psychiatrist will need to complete the ECT outpatient work-up form. This includes a full psychiatric evaluation, complete history and physical, insurance information and several medical tests.

What is the best treatment for schizophrenia?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as electroshock therapy, is a safe and effective medical procedure that gives your brain electrical stimulation to help with depression, manic-depressive illness and schizophrenia.

How often do you need to take ECT?

Maintenance ECT is typically given weekly for four treatments, then every other week for two months, then monthly for two treatments.

How to minimize risks of ECT?

To minimize risks from ECT, you will receive a thorough medical clearance (work up) before beginning treatment. Please review side effects of ECT with your psychiatrist before treatment. Check with your insurance provider to make sure the location of your ECT treatment is in-network before scheduling the work up testing.

How many ECT sessions are needed for a person?

For effective treatment, you or your loved one may need eight to 12 ECT sessions. After treatment, some people go for years without experiencing severe symptoms, while others require “maintenance” sessions up to once a month. Most people continue taking medications for their mental health after receiving ECT.

Can you go home after an ECT?

Many people receive electroconvulsive therapy as an outpatient procedure, meaning you or your loved one can go home shortly after the therapy session. After waking up from anesthesia, some people experience headaches, muscle soreness, or nausea. Read what you need to know about ECT.

What is ECT therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can help patients suffering severe depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health illnesses when medications and other therapies are not working. ECT treatment can provide rapid improvement for patients whose mental illness and related symptoms are severe and difficult to manage.

What are the risks of ECT?

ECT can also be an option for more vulnerable patients, including: 1 Pregnant women 2 Older adults 3 Those unable to tolerate medication side effects 4 Those at-risk of drug interactions

What Is ECT?

Electroconvulsive therapy is an approved and regulated mental health treatment for people with psychological issues that are not well-managed with other interventions. ECT uses electrical current to “rewire” the brain in a safe and comfortable way (actually, the anesthesia and muscle relaxants don’t rewire the brain.

What Can Electroconvulsive Therapy Help With?

With the ability of ECT to reset or rewire the brain’s activity, the treatment can help with a range of symptoms and conditions. Whether a person has been struggling with a mental health condition for decades or they are experiencing a new or worsening symptom, electroconvulsive therapy could offer relief that is quick and effective.

How Does ECT Work?

Even though ECT is completed to help with mental health concerns, the process may feel more like a medical procedure. In many cases, providers perform the treatment in an acute care hospital under the supervision of medical and mental health professionals.

Is ECT Effective?

ECT is very effective, but the treatment may not be equally effective for all symptoms and situations. Overall, for a certain subset of people who cannot use psychiatric medications or have mental health conditions, like chronic depression, intense bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, ECT is a valid treatment option worthy of consideration.

Cost of Electroconvulsive Therapy

Because ECT is a medical procedure that requires the time, space, and resources of several medical professionals, the treatment is expensive, especially when compared to medication or therapy services. One ECT treatment can cost as much as $1,000, while a year of antidepressant medication costs just a few hundred dollars. 7

History of ECT

The principles of ECT date back to the 1930s when neuropsychiatrists and neurologists explored the relationships between seizure activity and mental health issues. In 1938, Ugo Cerletti first used electricity as a way to trigger a seizure. 6

How to Find an Electroconvulsive Therapy Provider

Because ECT is not as widely available as therapy or medication services, a person may have to look deeper to find an ECT provider. There may not be a national directory of ECT providers, but someone interested in ECT can refer to an online directory or complete an online search for local ECT providers.

What to Expect During Treatment

Upon arrival to the ECT Suite, the admission process takes place in one of the private rooms. An ECT nurse will obtain the patient’s vital signs and insert an IV. The psychiatrist conducts a pre-procedure assessment of the patient’s symptom severity and the anesthesiologist completes a pre-anesthesia evaluation.

Recovery

The PACU nurse is with the patient throughout the recovery period. Vital signs are monitored every 15 minutes. Complaints of pain or nausea are addressed by the psychiatrist and anesthesiologist. Medications for pain and/or nausea will be offered if indicated. Once the patient is alert and oriented, food and drink are provided.

Typical Number of Treatments Needed

A small number of patients may experience significant improvement of their symptoms after one or two treatments, but the majority of patients need four two six treatments for noticeable improvement and six to twelve treatments for remission. Treatments for the acute series take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

How long does an ECT procedure last?

How long is an ECT procedure? A single ECT session usually lasts one hour. This includes the time the patient will be in the treatment room (approximately 15-20 minutes) and the time spent in the recovery room (approximately 20-30 minutes). Typically, ECT (whether inpatient or outpatient) is given two to three times a week for a total ...

How does ECT work?

Why does ECT work? No one is sure how ECT helps certain psychiatric disorders. It may promote changes in how brain cells communicate with each other at synapses and it may stimulate the development of new brain cells. ECT may flood the brain with neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are known to be involved in conditions like ...

How long does it take to drive after ECT?

Usually this takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Patients who are given ECT on an outpatient basis must have someone drive them home after the procedure and stay with them until they go to sleep at night. People should not drive in the 24 hours following ECT.

What are the two electrodes used for?

Two of these electrodes are for monitoring the brain waves. The other two are for delivering a short, controlled set of electrical pulses for a few seconds. The electrical pulses must produce a generalized seizure to be effective.

How long does it take to sleep before ECT?

During the procedure, the patient receives a short acting anesthetic agent which puts the patient to sleep for approximately 5-10 minutes.

How can families help with ECT?

Families can help by providing a gentle reminder of the day and date and that feeling confused is to be expected. Family members should inform the nurse of any concern they have about their loved one. View a Powerpoint Presentation for Families about ECT.

Can memories be lost after ECT?

Memories formed closer to the time of ECT are at greater risk of being lost while those formed long before ECT are at less risk of being lost. The ability to form new memories is also impaired after a course of ECT treatments but this ability usually makes a full recovery in the weeks and months following the last treatment.

What is ECT therapy?

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment that sends a small electric current to your brain to cause a seizure. The seizure affects the chemicals in your brain, which may make your brain cells work better.

How long does it take for ECT to go away?

ECT may cause memory loss and confusion. Your confusion may go away in a short time, such as 1 hour after your treatment. You may lose your memory for 1 to 3 weeks, and some memories may be lost forever.

Can you fall after ECT?

If more ECT treatments are planned for you, ask the healthcare provider to give you medicine before the treatments to help prevent headaches. There is a greater chance that you will fall after ECT treatments . Ask someone to help you when you want to stand up or walk.

Overview

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Risks

How You Prepare

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