we understand exactly how ect works as a treatment.

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. ECT often works when other treatments are unsuccessful and when the full course of treatment is completed, but it may not work for everyone.

Full Answer

What is ECT and how does it work?

Expert Answer 1. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is done under general anaesthesia, a process in which tiny electric currents are transmitted through the … View the full answer Transcribed image text: We understand exactly how ECT works as a treatment.

What is the difference between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and ongoing treatment?

How does ECT work? It is believed that ECT enhances the chemicals (neurotransmitters; dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine) that are lacking, or deficient in different areas of the brain. Another theory is that ECT causes the release of certain hormones within our brain that exert beneficial effects relative to our mood and even promote the growth of brain cells.

What is a modern ECT session like?

What exactly is ECT? Well, ECT stands for electroconvulsive therapy and is a form of brain stimulation used to treat the most severe cases of depression or depression in patients who have tried other forms of treatment without result. ECT can also be used to treat other severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and symptoms of schizophrenia.

How does electroconvulsive therapy work?

Mar 04, 2022 · Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure where electric currents are directed to the brain. ECT treatments can provide a fast and considerable reduction of symptoms for people with severe depression as well as other mental health conditions, which can include: bipolar disorder; schizophrenia; catatonia; dementia

How does ECT work?

Though researchers don’t know exactly how ECT works, the treatment is thought to spark electrical activity among brain cells and change the chemical balance in areas of the brain which play an important part in mood regulation. (You can read more about different forms of depression treatments at the NHS website .)

When to use ECT?

Because of its side effects, ECT is most commonly used in severe cases of depression or in treatment-resistant depression (when a depressed patient has tried other treatments without results). ECT can also be used when a depressed patient needs symptom relief more quickly than usual, for example, if the patient is at high risk for suicide. Most patients report that the benefits of ECT outweigh the problems, but it’s very important to be aware of the possible side effects before making your decision about ECT treatment.

How long does a TDCs session last?

A tDCS session usually lasts for 30 minutes and can be administered at home with a tDCS headset. The recommended protocol for depression includes 5 tDCS sessions per week during the first two weeks and, after that, 2 sessions per week for as long as you need it.

What is ECT used for?

ECT can also be used to treat other severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and symptoms of schizophrenia. During an ECT session, a brief electric current is administered to the brain to induce a controlled seizure while the patient is under general anesthesia.

What are the side effects of ECT?

Here is a list of the most common side effects: 1 Disorientation (usually lasts between a few minutes to a few hours after an ECT session) 2 Aches, fatigue and nausea are other short-term side effects from ECT 3 Memory loss: Memory loss is the biggest issue with ECT and a common side effect. Some people lose memories of events that took place months before they had ECT treatment and some are left with permanent gaps in memory. Most depressed patients say that the ECT treatment was worth losing a few memories over, but others report that they have lost precious memories, for example, the memory of a family trip or even their wedding day. The memory loss is usually worse shortly after the ECT treatment and then gradually improves with time. A minority of ECT patients report memory problems that remain for months or years. Unfortunately, there is currently no way to tell who will be affected by memory problems, which means that memory loss is a risk for everyone who decides to go through ECT treatment.#N#Worth noting is that concentration difficulties and memory problems are a common symptom of severe depression. In some cases where ECT treatment has been successful and these symptoms have disappeared, patients have actually experienced that ECT improved their memory functions. 4 Difficulty in forming new memories: Another side effect of ECT is having difficulties creating new memories. This side effect is temporary and usually disappears a few weeks after ECT treatment.

What is the brain area that is used to treat depression?

When treating depression, the electrodes are placed high up on the forehead to target a brain area called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Lowered activity in the DLPFC is associated with depressive symptoms such as fatigue, sleeping problems, concentration difficulties and changes in appetite.

When was the first ECT used?

In 1938 the first course of ECT was used and it looked very different from today’s procedures. Back in 1938, doctors would run a high electric current through patients’ brains, causing whole body seizures. No anaesthetic was used, so patients would bite their tongues or even break their bones because of muscle spasms from the seizure.

Why do people take ECT?

When you think about it, it makes sense that this would be part of why ECT and other therapies work as it combats the shrinking of the brain seen in depression and other mental illnesses.

Who is Natasha Tracy?

Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker, advocate and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 22 years and has written more than 1000 articles on the subject. Find more of Natasha’s work in her acclaimed book: "Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar" on Amazon.

Does electroconvulsive therapy reboot the brain?

And one of the things I have said is that electroconvulsive therapy does not “reboot” the brain. There is just nothing similar to this analogy that we can point to with regards to ECT. Until now, that is.

History of ECT

The idea that some sort of convulsive shock seemed to clear up mental disturbances isn't new; even Hippocrates noted that convulsions caused by malaria seemed to help patients with mental illness.

Welcome to Your ECT Appointment

1998: Doctors at a New York hospital perform ECT on a patient to treat depression.

Does It Work? ECT Effectiveness

Before we go any further, we should make it clear that a small number of people with really severe mental illnesses receive ECT. About 100,000 Americans undergo ECT each year, while nearly 14.8 million Americans report depression annually [sources: Reti, NIMH ].

Why does ECT work so well?

And perhaps the reason ECT works so well and so fast is exactly because it produces multiple different therapeutic effects. So our “failure” to point at a single mechanism of action could be due to what might be the strength of this treatment.

What is ECT in the NHS?

The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to treat psychiatric disorders is on the rise in England, according to a new report in the Guardian. There was an 11% rise in the number of procedures performed on the NHS between 2012-13 and 2015-16. ECT involves passing an electric current through the head of an anaesthetised patient.

Do pharmaceutical companies have to prove efficacy?

That would mean not using many of the pharmaceuticals on the market today. Drugs regulators, such as the US Food and Drug Administration, only require that a pharmaceuticals firm proves the efficacy of a drug, not provide definitive evidence for how it works. Psychiatry. Depression. electroconvulsive therapy.

Is a syringe good for depression?

Its therapeutic effect was discovered in 1938. Today, it remains the most effective treatment for severe depression. Yet, for some reason, it is always presented in a negative light.

Is bilateral ECT more effective than unilateral?

Bilateral ECT was more effective than unilateral (that is, treatments given to the whole brain are more effective than those given to half of the brain). And, finally, six trials that compared higher electric charges with lower electric charges found that higher charges produced greater improvements. Still, every few years the opponents of ECT ...

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: 1. Severe depression,particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis), a desire to commit suicide or refusal to …

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