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.
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How much does ECT treatment cost?
ECT is performed under general anesthesia. You are not awake for the procedure nor do you feel the electric currents. Patients also receive a muscle relaxer to help prevent convulsions caused by the seizure. During the procedure, electrodes are positioned on your scalp.
What are the benefits of ECT treatment?
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. ECT is usually considered if your psychiatrist has tried several antidepressant medication trials and you still have significant depression symptoms.
How many ECT treatments are needed?
There is, of course, out patient ECT. You really (probably) just need to ask a psychiatrist, if you're seeing one. If you're not currently seeing someone, getting a referral from a general practitioner might be an avenue to go down (or finding one out of the phone book). I know how frustrating it is to seek help and find dead ends. 6 level 2
Is ECT an Ethical Treatment?
May 09, 2022 · Electroconvulsive therapy, once known as shock therapy, is a safe and effective treatment for depression and other mental illnesses. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is most often used in cases of severe, intractable, hard to treat (treatment-resistant) depression. Generally, ECT is a short-term treatment where the patient receives 6-12 treatments over the …
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Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Patient Information Booklet - page 3 of 8 A nurse or other team member inserts an intravenous (IV) line into the hand or arm through which medications can be injected. The nurse places sensors on the head for recording EEG (electroencephalogram, a measure of brain activity) and on the chest
What Is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?
ECT is a type of Somatic Therapy that sends small electrical currents through the brain to trigger a brief seizure. ECT appears to change a patient’s brain chemistry, quickly reversing symptoms of certain mental health conditions.
What Can I Expect During ECT?
Banner Health’s team of care professionals complete physical and psychiatric evaluations prior to prescribing a patient ECT. This comprehensive approach ensures you are properly diagnosed, minimizes your risks of adverse side effects and maximizes your ECT benefits.
Are There Side Effects to ECT?
Side effects associated with ECT are uncommon and generally mild. Following the procedure, you may experience headaches, nausea, soreness and confusion for a few hours.
Why Does ECT Work?
There are a lot of unknowns about why ECT works. Doctors believe it promotes changes in how brain cells communicate, stimulates the development of new brain cells and increases neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Another theory is that a seizure somehow resets the brain.
How to get ECT?
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. ECT is usually considered if your psychiatrist has tried several antidepressant medication trials and you still have significant depression symptoms.
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.
What is the best treatment for manic depressive disorder?
When medication isn’t enough, safely stimulating your brain may help. Preparing For... 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.
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 effective is ECT?
ECT is between 60 and 90 percent effective in major depression, and adults of nearly all ages can receive treatment. 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. ECT is usually considered if your psychiatrist has tried several antidepressant ...
How long does it take to wake up after ECT?
You will not feel any discomfort when the electrical stimulation is given. You will wake up in the recovery area 5 to 10 minutes after the procedure. ECT is given in a series of treatments, usually three times per week.
Do you have to change into a gown for ECT?
Your ECT treatment will most likely be an outpatient procedure in a comfortable, non-surgical setting. You won’t even need to change into a gown. Since your ECT will be in the morning on an empty stomach, you will be given a light breakfast after your session.
Has anyone been so depressed that they lose empathy for others?
Is this a trauma thing?? There are some things over the last couple years where I really have to wonder what the hell is wrong with me. I’ve just been a complete bitch and not taken anyone’s feelings into consideration.
I'm not even sad anymore, I'm just empty
Apathetic and anhedonic. Those two words define my existence. Bored, but with no desire to do anything. Forget about happiness, I'd rather be sad than empty. Well, that or dead.
I wish I had never been born
I don't want to exist. I didn't ask for this. Life is horrible and it never gets better. Only pain. And just when you think you're in the most pain possible, surprise! You find out about a whole new level of pain you had no idea existed.
I wanna date but I'm just not interesting anymore
Depression has turned me into an empty person. I'm 22 and I don't think I have much to offer anyone but I also want to be loved. I don't know how to get out of this cause I feel like I need affection in order to function as a human, but nobody wants to love somebody who isn't functioning.
Being depressed in NYC is fucking hard dawg
Everybody’s cool, everybody has something to offer, everybody has vibrant and colorful personalities and then there’s me - an empty sack of potatoes…
Why do people need ECT?
Maintenance ECT: Why Some People Need Continuation ECT. Electroconvulsive therapy, once known as shock therapy, is a safe and effective treatment for depression and other mental illnesses. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is most often used in cases of severe, intractable, hard to treat (treatment-resistant) depression.
How long does ECT last?
Generally, ECT is a short-term treatment where the patient receives 6-12 treatments over the course of 2-4 weeks. However, in some cases, continuation ECT or maintenance ECT is used. These two therapies continue ECT beyond the initial 6-12 sessions used in acute treatment.
What is electroconvulsive therapy?
Natasha Tracy. Electroconvulsive therapy, once known as shock therapy, is a safe and effective treatment for depression and other mental illnesses. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is most often used in cases of severe, intractable, hard to treat (treatment-resistant) depression.
What is maintenance ECT?
Maintenance ECT consists of ECT treatments given infrequently over a long period of time after the index series and continuation ECT. The goal of maintenance ECT is to prevent the reoccurrence of the mental illness.
What is the best treatment for depression?
Electroconvulsive therapy, once known as shock therapy, is a safe and effective treatment for depression and other mental illnesses. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is most often used in cases of severe, intractable, hard to treat (treatment-resistant) depression.
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.
What does it mean when you have a fever?
You have a fever. You have a severe headache that does not get better, even after you take medicine to treat it. You have a stiff neck or trouble thinking clearly. You have feelings of guilt or hopelessness, or thoughts of hurting or killing yourself or others.
How many treatments are there for ECT?
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 many times a week is ECT given?
Answer: ECT is usually given two or three times a week -- usually on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 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.
How long does it take for ECT to relapse?
However patients given medication after ECT have about a 50/50 chance of relapsing or having another episode of depression. Usually this episode occurs within one to three months ...
How long does ECT last?
Maintenance ECT involves getting treatments every two weeks to every month, usually for a period of six months to a year. But patients have gone on maintenance ECT for up to three years, depending on their response.
How long does it take for depression to go away after ECT?
Usually this episode occurs within one to three months after ECT -- but it can occur within the six months after ECT.
