Treatment FAQ

for treatment of which of the following disorders is electroconvulsive therapy most justified?

by Dr. Beatrice Kling Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used in patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder that has not responded to other treatments.

What client information would preclude electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?

Because informed consent is required for ECT, cognitive deficits could preclude this option. A client with cognitive deficits is extremely suicidal. The client has not responded to antidepressants and the treatment team is considering electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). What client information would impact the feasibility of this treatment option?

When is electroconvulsive therapy used to treat severe depression?

Electroconvulsive therapy is usually considered when medications fail, can not be tolerated, or may be dangerous, but it is a first-line treatment for severely depressed patients who require a rapid response because of a high suicide or homicide risk, extreme agitation, life-threatening inanition, psychosis, or stupor.

What is electroconvulsive therapy for epilepsy?

Electroconvulsive therapy is the induction of a grand mal seizure through the application of electrical current to the brain. Immediately after electroconvulsive therapy, in which position should a nurse place the client?

How many treatments of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) should you have?

One treatment every day for a total of 10 to 20 treatments A, B, C, D Which of the following conditions increases the risk of adverse events associated with ECT? (Select all that apply.) A. Increased intracranial pressure B. Recent myocardial infarction

How is electroconvulsive therapy used in treating specific disorders?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a very safe and effective medical treatment for certain psychiatric disorders. It is considered a form of brain neuromodulation. The treatment involves delivery of a small amount of electrical energy to your brain to induce a short seizure.

When is ECT recommended?

ECT is generally used when severe depression is unresponsive to other forms of therapy. Or it might be used when patients pose a severe threat to themselves or others and it is too dangerous to wait until medications take effect.

What are some of the benefits of using electroconvulsive therapy to treat depression?

The Benefits of ECT The greatest benefit of ECT is that it can relieve the symptoms of mental health conditions that were formerly untreatable. It is not a cure, but ECT can help people return to a normal, productive life.

How does ECT work for schizophrenia?

Overview. 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.

How does ECT work for bipolar disorder?

ECT involves sending an electric current through the brain to cause a controlled seizure. It isn't entirely understood why the seizure is effective, but it's thought that it eases the symptoms of bipolar disorder by changing the brain's chemistry. Electroconvulsive therapy is performed in the hospital.

Does ECT help with PTSD?

ECT is the most effective treatment for improving mood in patients with depression and there is new evidence emerging that suggests ECT can also improve PTSD symptoms independently of co-morbid depression.

Which patient is the best candidate for electroconvulsive therapy ECT?

It is lifesaving. Some studies suggests that ECT is effective in Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Antidepressant effects generally take 2-3 weeks, but quicker responses are sometimes seen, especially in patients with bipolar depression.”

Which of the following are some of the benefits of using electroconvulsive?

Which of the following are some benefits of using electroconvulsive therapy to treat depression? It is not known to harm a developing fetus. It works quickly, whereas antidepressants can take weeks to kick in. It has proven effective when other treatments have failed.

Can ECT be used to treat anxiety?

ECT is not used to treat anxiety and therefore does not have a role in people who have solely an anxiety disorder. ECT may have a role in people who have comorbid depression and anxiety.

Does ECT help with schizoaffective disorder?

The present study and review concludes that: (1) ECT is a very effective acute treatment in schizoaffective disorder; (2) whether called schizoaffective or affective disorder with psychosis there appears to be a subgroup of young patients with prominent confusion and lack of response to medications for whom ECT is ...

What is the best treatment for schizophrenia?

Antipsychotics. Antipsychotics are usually recommended as the initial treatment for the symptoms of an acute schizophrenic episode. They work by blocking the effect of the chemical dopamine on the brain.

Does ECT help with delusions?

Conclusion: ECT appears to be an effective treatment for severely depressed inpatients, both with and without delusions. The efficacy of ECT was superior in patients with delusional depression, considering the number of patients achieving partial remission as well as full remission.

What is electroconvulsive therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy is the induction of a grand mal seizure through the application of electrical current to the brain for the purpose of decreasing depression. A chronically depressed and suicidal client is admitted to a psychiatric unit. The client is scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

How often should a nurse monitor pulse and blood pressure after electroconvulsive therapy?

ANS: A. Immediately after electroconvulsive therapy a nurse should monitor pulse, respirations, and blood pressure every 15 minutes for the first hour, during which time the client should remain in bed.

What is ECT treatment?

D. Encourage high-caloric diet throughout the ECT course of treatment. ANS: A. ECT is an intervention for major depression that often includes suicidal ideations as a symptom. Continued suicide assessment is needed because mood improvement due to ECT may cause the client to act on suicidal ideations.

What is a client experiencing manic episodes of bipolar disorder?

ANS: A. A client who is experiencing suicidal ideations is in need of an immediate intervention to prevent self-harm and must be prioritized when the nurse schedules ECT. A client with cognitive deficits is extremely suicidal.

How long does it take for an electroconvulsive patient to sleep?

After the treatment, most clients will awaken within 10 to 15 minutes and will be confused and disoriented. Some clients will sleep for 1 to 2 hours.

Can vagal stimulation cause bradycardia?

Vagal stimulation induced by ECT may cause a client to experience bradycardia. Adequate tissue perfusion would be a realistic expectation when normal cardiac output is restored. A nursing student is observing an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatment. The student notices a blood pressure cuff on the client's lower leg.

How often is electroconvulsive therapy given?

It is usually administered 2 or 3 times a week, although ECT may be administered daily if tolerated.

What is electroshock therapy?

Background. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT, also known as electroshock therapy) involves the intentional induction of generalized seizures by administering electrical impulses to the anesthetized patient. Treatments are typically administered by a psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist or anesthetist.

How many treatments are needed for delirium?

A small number of ECT treatments often reverse catatonia, a nonspecific symptom that can occur in mood disorders, schizophrenia, cognitive disorders, and medical and neurological illnesses. Up to 12 treatments may be required in some patients. There is very limited evidence that ECT is effective for delirium.

How many treatments are there for depression?

The average course of treatment for depression is 6 to 12 treatments, but some patients may require as many as 20 treatments. Electroconvulsive therapy has been found to be as or more effective than lithium in the treatment of manic episodes and is also a potential treatment for patients experiencing mixed episodes.

Is Lennox-Gastaut syndrome drug resistant?

Asadi-Pooya and colleagues (2016) noted that Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is an epileptic encephalopathy, characterized by drug-resistant multiple seizure types. In a pilot study, these researchers examined if the adjunctive use of ECT in patients with LGS and drug-resistant epilepsy is effective in decreasing their seizure frequency and also examined its safety and tolerability. This was an open-label study with convenience sampling from 1 center. Bi-temporal electrode placement was selected; ECT was administered 3 times per week for 4 weeks (considered as the induction phase), and then once-weekly for 2 months (considered as the maintenance phase). Follow-up visits were scheduled at 2, 3, 4, and 6 months to determine the seizure types and counts and also to determine the safety and tolerability of adjunctive use of ECT in these patients. All patients and/or their caregivers consented in writing to their participation. A total of 7 patients were studied; just 1 patient experienced more than 50 % reduction in seizure frequency; 1 patient experienced more than 50 % seizure increase with ECT. In 3 patients, there was an increase in aggressive behavior after receiving ECT; 2 patients experienced mild and transient ataxia with ECT; 1 patient experienced mutism with ECT, which was transient and resolved with the termination of the procedure. The authors concluded that in this small (n = 7) pilot study, adjunctive use of an intensive ECT program in patients with LGS was not effective in decreasing their seizure frequency. However, the safety profile was acceptable, and patients tolerated the adjunctive use of ECT very well; these findings can pave the road for future investigations.

Is MMECT effective?

The effectiveness of MMECT has not been established. The National Institutes of Health 1985 Consensus Development Conference Statement on ECT states that “Multiple monitored ECT (several seizures during a single treatment session) has not been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective to be recommended…”.

Can ECT be used for chronic pain?

A few clinicians have reported the successful use of ECT in severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anorexia nervosa, atypical psychosis, cycloid psychosis, epilepsy with alternating psychosis, and chronic pain disorder, but those disorders are not usually considered indications for ECT.

Why It's Done

Risks

Self-treatment: Self- care steps that may be helpful in some less- serious cases:

Self help information for family, friends and colleagues

  • Loosen tight clothing
  • Protect the person from injury
  • If they have fallen, place something soft under their head
  • Stay with them until they recover fully

Do not:

  • Try to restrain the person
  • Put anything between their teeth
  • Move them, unless they are in danger
  • Give them food to eat or drink

Person who have had seizure

  • Avoid triggers
  • Avoid unprotected heights and unsupervised areas of water
See a doctor if you notice:
  • Seizure lasts less than 5 minutes
  • None of the below mentioned incidents occur during the episode

See a doctor immediately if you notice:
  • Seizure lasts longer than five minutes
  • Breathing or consciousness doesn't return after the seizure stops
  • A second seizure follows immediately
  • The seizure happened in water
  • High fever
  • Heat exhaustion
  • Person is pregnant
  • Person has diabetes
  • Person is injured during the seizure

How You Prepare

What You Can Expect

  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can provide rapid, significant improvements in severe symptoms of several mental health conditions. ECT is used to treat: 1. Severe depression,particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis), a desire to commit suicide or refusal to e…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Results

  • Although ECT is generally safe, risks and side effects may include: 1. 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. Confusion is generally more noticeable in older adults. 2. Memory loss.Some people hav…
See more on mayoclinic.org

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