is there such a procedure as shock treatment and why would they do it?

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The shock occurring in body is a disorder that can be treated if the blood pressure and blood supply is kept optimum. This job is done by inducing a few external things into the body. But it is to be noted that there is no permanent recovery from the problem of shock.

What is shock and how is it treated?

Follow Up At the hospital, the person will be given oxygen and intravenous fluids. Blood test, urine tests, heart test and x-rays and/or CT scans may be done. Other treatment will depend on the cause of shock.

What do hospitals do for shock patients?

This type of treatment is highly controversial, but psychiatrists still use it even today. Over time, experts added different techniques to the category of shock therapy. They range from walking on hot coals to publicly announcing individual failures. In all cases, the principle is the same.

Do psychiatrists still use shock therapy today?

Shock is a life-threatening medical condition and is a medical emergency. If shock is suspected call 911 or get to an emergency department immediately. The main symptom of shock is low blood pressure.

Is shock a medical emergency?

Why would you need shock therapy?

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. ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia.

Are you awake during shock therapy?

Although you will be asleep during the treatment, the medical team will need to start preparing you for the treatment while you are still awake. The team will: Place sensors called electrodes on your head, so that they can measure the electrical activity in your brain.

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.

How long does shock therapy last?

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).

Is shock therapy still used today?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure used to treat certain psychiatric conditions. It involves passing a carefully controlled electric current through the brain, which affects the brain's activity and aims to relieve severe depressive and psychotic symptoms. Modern day ECT is safe and effective.

What does shock therapy feel like?

When you awaken, you may experience a period of disorientation lasting from a few minutes to several hours. Headaches, jaw pain, and muscle soreness may occur. ECT requires a series of treatments, often initiated two to three times a week for a few weeks and then the frequency is tapered down.

What are the long term side effects of electric shock therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been controversially associated with long-lasting memory problems. Verbal learning and memory deficits are commonly reported in studies of people with bipolar disorder (BD).

Who is a candidate for ECT?

People who have had ECT before and responded well are good candidates for ECT. Other first-line indications for the procedure include people who are catatonic or suffering from a form of depression known as psychotic depression (depression associated with delusions and hallucinations).

Why is ECT used as a last resort?

“The seizure is induced in a very controlled fashion, using a fairly precise delivery of an electric current.” Dr Davey says ECT is seen as a treatment option of last resort, to be used when nothing else has worked, or when there isn't time to find the right medication for a patient, a process that can take months.

Who should not get shockwave therapy?

Malignant tumors, metastasis, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma in the treatment area have to be seen as contraindications for treatment with radial and focused shock waves with low and high energy. Cancer itself, in the form of the underlying disease, is not a contraindication for ESWT [4].

What are the side effects of shockwave therapy?

Side effects from ESWT are limited to mild bruising, swelling, pain, numbness or tingling in the treated area, and the recovery is minimal compared with that of surgical intervention. "Most patients take a day or two off after treatment but don't require a prolonged recovery period," says Dr.

What should you not do after shockwave?

You should avoid high impact exercise such as running or playing tennis for the first 48 hours after treatment. If you feel any discomfort, you can take paracetamol if you're able, but avoid taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen as it will counteract the treatment and render it useless.

Why do doctors use ECT?

Doctors these days are much more hesitant to use ECT than passed, if for no other reason than because people are typically opposed. In addition, ECT is required by law to be used only by your consent or under the most severe conditions, such as: 1 To save your life 2 If urgently needed to prevent a rapid worsening of your condition

What is ECT therapy?

Therefore, ECT therapy is most commonly used in severe major depression or bipolar disorder that have failed to respond to traditional methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, or talk therapy. The most common side effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are:

What is the result of ECT?

The result is that they respond more positively to cues in their environment. The amygdala, the structure in the brain involved with experiencing emotions, also changes structurally following ECT. These changes are currently being studied to understand better why ECT helps certain people and not others.

What to do the night before anesthesia?

For example, you might be asked not to smoke, drink caffeine, or eat after a certain time. When you arrive for your treatment, usually done in the morning, a nurse sets up an IV for the anesthesia.

What do doctors do before giving you ECT?

Before making the final decision to give you ECT, your doctor will take your medical history, give you a physical exam, do a psychiatric assessment, take basic blood tests, and do an ECG to check your heart.

Is shock therapy safe?

Risks And Side Effects Of Shock Therapy. Modern ECT is a very safe procedure, but there are a few risks and side effects. Because this is a medical procedure that uses general anesthesia, you may suffer medical complications. In addition, the treatment always causes increases in heart rate and blood pressure.

Can you get shock treatment with ECT?

If your doctor has suggested ECT as a possible treatment for you or a loved one, you need to make sure you understand what your specific treatment will be done and what results you can achieve from it. However, you may be worried that you'll be given shock treatment against your will if you seek treatment for psychiatric problems. That's why it's important to find out all you can as soon as possible.

What movie was shock therapy based on?

The movie (based on the Ken Kesey novel) portrayed the treatment as a torturous procedure that caused patients to writhe, red-faced, in pain. In fact, that image is an accurate portrayal ...

Is ECT helpful for patients?

Although ECT has proven helpful for a wide range of patients, misconceptions and a certain level of stigma remain. “Sometimes families are hesitant to encourage them to come to ECT,” Reti says.

What to do if you are in shock?

Do not move the person unless there is danger. Reassure the person. Do not give anything to eat or drink. 5. Follow Up. At the hospital, the person will be given oxygen and intravenous fluids. Blood test, urine tests, heart test and xrays and/or CT scans may be done. Other treatment will depend on the cause of shock.

How to protect yourself from a syringe?

4. Keep Person Warm and Comfortable 1 Loosen restrictive clothing. 2 Cover with a coat or blanket. 3 Keep the person still. Do not move the person unless there is danger. 4 Reassure the person. 5 Do not give anything to eat or drink.

What is insulin shock therapy?

Until the discovery of the tranquilizing drugs, variations of insulin-shock therapy (also called insulin-coma therapy) were commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic conditions. With insulin-shock treatment, the patient is given increasingly large doses of insulin, which reduce the sugar content ...

What is the purpose of electroshock therapy?

Electroconvulsive, or electroshock, therapy, introduced in Rome in 1938 by U. Cerletti and L. Bini, has been widely used in treating disturbances in which severe depression is the predominant symptom.

How effective is insulin shock?

Insulin shock had its greatest effectiveness with schizophrenic patients whose illness had lasted less than two years ( the rate of spontane ous recovery from schizophrenia also is highest in the first two years of the illness). Insulin-shock therapy also had more value in the treatment of paranoid and catatonic schizophrenia than in ...

What is shock?

When the organs and the tissues of the body are not receiving proper flow of blood, then such a medical condition is known as shock. Shock deprives the flow of oxygen into various organs of the body and induces piling up of waste materials. Shock, when becomes very serious, can also cause death.

How is Shock diagnosed?

Shock, which is a state of inadequate tissue perfusion, can be diagnosed by two methods which include clinical evaluation and test result trends. The first one is the most common method of diagnosis and is based upon clinical findings such as inadequate tissue perfusion, followed by signs such as tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis.

What is the treatment for shock?

Shock is a situation where the human body is unable to receive optimum amount of blood in the body. Therefore to treat such a disorder, the proper amount of blood flow should be assured to all the important internal organs as well as in blood vessels and tissues.

Who is eligible for the treatment?

Shock is a state of medical emergency and needs to undergo hospitalization as early as possible.

What to do in a Shock?

Shock is an emergency medical condition that is associated with a decreased blood flow to the body organs and seeks urgent medical consultation and care. However, some basic steps which need to be done in this state to ensure the survival of the individual are such as:

Are there any side effects?

Vasopressin used can be sometimes harmful for the patient who is suffering from shock. There is a risk of having arrhythmia due to consumption of vasopressin. The usage of various electronic devices in trying to cure this disorder can lead to other problems.

What are the post-treatment guidelines?

The post-treatment guidelines for the treatment of the problem of shock are to see that the patient is having a proper blood circulation in the body. For that, the patient is to be taken for regular check-ups to the doctor. Checking the blood pressure should be done regularly, and the pressure should not be allowed to fall.

What are the main treatments for shock?

Immobilization, anti-inflammatories such as steroids and surgery are the main treatments. Shock prevention includes learning ways to prevent heart disease, injuries, dehydration, and other causes of shock.

What to do if you suspect shock?

If you suspect shock after an injury, even if the person seems stable, call 911 or get them to an emergency department immediately. Prompt treatment can save a person's life. The sooner shock is treated, the better. When treated quickly there is less risk of damage to a person's vital organs.

What are the different types of shock?

There are several types of shock: septic shock caused by bacteria, anaphylactic shock caused by hypersensitivity or allergic reaction, cardiogenic shock from heart damage, hypovolemic shock from blood or fluid loss, and neurogenic shock from spinal cord trauma. Treatment for shock depends on the cause.

How is cardiogenic shock treated?

Cardiogenic shock is treated by identifying and treating the underlying cause. Hypovolemic shock is treated with fluids (saline) in minor cases, and blood transfusions in severe cases. Neurogenic shock is the most difficult to treat as spinal cord damage is often irreversible.

Why is prompt treatment important?

Prompt treatment of medical shock is essential for the best outcome. Moreover, the outlook depends on the cause of the shock, the general health of the patient, and the promptness of treatment and recovery. Generally, hypovolemic shock and anaphylactic shock respond well to medical treatment if initiated early.

What is the treatment for septic shock?

Usually, IV fluids are administered in addition to medications that raise blood pressure. Septic shock is treated with antibiotics and fluids. Anaphylactic shock is treated with diphenhydramine ( Benadryl ), epinephrine (an "Epi-pen"), and steroid medications (solumedrol).

What causes anaphylactic shock?

Common causes of this are pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin infections ( cellulitis ), intra-abdominal infections (such as a ruptured appendix ), and meningitis . Anaphylactic shock is a type of severe hypersensitivity or allergic reaction. Causes include allergy to insect stings, medicines, or foods (nuts, berries, seafood), etc.

What is neuromodulation therapy?

It’s one of the most studied mental health treatments available. For some patients with depression, there are also other brain-stimulating treatment options, called transcranial magnetic stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation. Together with ECT, they’re called “neuromodulation” therapies.

What are the effects of a short seizure?

Biological effects of the brief seizure cause changes in brain chemicals — such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine — which are believed to be connected to mood-related problems, like depression , and other disorders.

Does electroshock therapy help with autism?

Flipping through channels late at night, you may come across an old movie that shows someone getting electroshock therapy, and wonder if anyone still does that today.

Does insurance cover ECT?

Most insurance programs cover it with a doctor’s referral. ECT is considered an established therapy option for certain conditions, so many insurance plans cover it — including plans offered by major private insurance companies and Medicare.

Is ECT done under general anesthesia?

ECT is done under general anesthesia, so patients don’t feel a thing. Modern ECT treatment units, such as the new one that just opened at the University of Michigan, provide comfortable surroundings to prepare for the anesthesia, and to wake up slowly from it.

What is shock therapy?

Apparently, an overdose of these chemical substances improved the symptoms of mental patients. Later, they introduced electric shocks.

How often does shock therapy work?

With shock therapy, in general, the exposure only has to happen once. One time is enough for the phobia to disappear. However, psychologists also sometimes use progressive exposure. It all depends on the situation. As with anything human, there is no final word on the subject.

Why is shock therapy controversial?

However, the data to support its effectiveness isn’t reliable. That’s because those who practiced it didn’t organize the information or treat it in a scientific way.

Can shock therapy cause death?

We have documented cases of shock therapy causing permanent injury or cardiac arrest. In other words, it can lead to death. There are also cases of people who end up in a vegetative state after these procedures. Psychiatrists continue using electroshock therapy. They use it primarily in cases of severe depression.

Do psychiatrists still use electric shocks?

Later, they introduced electric shocks. This type of treatment is highly controversial, but psychiatrists still use it even today. Over time, experts added different techniques to the category of shock therapy. They range from walking on hot coals to publicly announcing individual failures.

Who was the first to use shock therapy?

As far as we know, the ancient Greeks were the first ones to experiment with shock therapy. We know that they used something like this on people who were in a highly agitated state. There are references to this type of anxiety being treated with suffocation.

Is it possible that a patient views the treatment as a severe punishment?

There are a good number of people in the world who claim to have benefited from these procedures. It’s possible that they are right. It’s also possible that the patient views the treatment as a severe punishment. Consequently, they refrain from certain behaviors that the doctor doesn’t want them to show.

Is electroconvulsive therapy still used?

But electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is still being used -- more in Europe than the United States -- and it may be the most effective short-term treatment for some patients with depressive symptoms, a newly published review in the journal The Lancet suggests.

Is ECT more effective than drug therapy?

Findings from 18 studies involving 1,144 patients suggested that ECT was significantly more effective for the short-term treatment of depression than drug therapy.

Mechanism

• The brain is still not well understood, nor is the reason for the treatment effects ECT (shock) therapy has on some individuals. It is known that ECT affects hormones, neuropeptides, neurotrophic factors, and neurotransmitters in the brain. All of this may come together to explai…

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