what is ect treatment used for according to psychology

What is the maximum number of ECT treatments?

What is the maximum number of ECT treatments? The ECT taper from an acute series to a maintenance schedule is generally once a week for 4 treatments, then every 2 weeks for 4 treatments, then every 3 weeks for 4 treatments, then every 4 weeks. There is no limit on how long a patient can receive maintenance ECT provided the treatment is effective.

What are the risks of ECT?

Risks of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

1. Memory Loss. Memory loss is the primary side effect associated with ECT treatment. ...
2. Concentration and Attention Problems. Some people with have ECT treatments complain of ongoing problems with concentration and attention, much like a person with attention deficit disorder.
3. General Confusion. ...
4. Other Side Effects. ...
5. Other Risks. ...

How successful is ECT?

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How much does ECT therapy cost?

The cost to the consumer for ECT varies depending on if the person has health insurance, if the insurance covers this procedure, and to what extent. The cost of each ECT session is about $2,500, for a total of $25,000 for the 10 sessions an average course of treatment entails. That does not include the cost of a hospital stay if necessary.

What was ECT originally used to treat?

Electroconvulsive therapy was born. In 1938, Cerletti and his psychiatrist colleague Lucio Bini developed the first ECT device and treated their first human patient, a diagnosed schizophrenic with delusions, hallucinations, and confusion.

What patients benefit from ECT?

ECT is one of the fastest ways to relieve symptoms in severely depressed or suicidal patients. It's also very effective for patients who suffer from mania or a number of other mental illnesses.

Why is ECT used for depression?

With ECT, an electrical stimulation is delivered to the brain and causes a seizure. For reasons that doctors don't completely understand, this seizure helps relieve the symptoms of depression. ECT does not cause any structural damage to the brain.

What are the indications for ECT?

ECT is used mainly to treat severe depression, but is also indicated for patients with other conditions, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, catatonia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Is ECT used for schizophrenia?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was initially used for the treatment of schizophrenia, but over the years with the advent of antipsychotics, its use in schizophrenia has been limited. Treatment guidelines vary in their recommendations for the use of ECT in schizophrenia.

When should ECT not be used?

The following strategies should not be used routinely: augmentation of an antidepressant with a benzodiazepine for more than 2 weeks as there is a risk of dependence. augmentation of an antidepressant with buspirone*, carbamazepine*, lamotrigine* or valproate* as there is insufficient evidence for their use.

Does 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.

Why is ECT controversial?

Reasons for Controversy Three reasons are given for the aversion: 1) ECT is considered old-fashioned and politically incorrect; 2) it is forced on the patient; and 3) the memory disturbances are so severe and persistent that no rational human being would undergo this procedure, no matter how well-intended.

Does ECT work for bipolar?

ECT is also used to stabilize bipolar illness during extreme episodes of mania or depression. For a growing number of patients, ECT can be a more powerful and longer lasting treatment. ECT may be recommended when a person is at risk for harming themselves (suicidal).

Which client would be a candidate for ECT?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) can be an effective treatment option for clients who are severely depressed, suicidal, or have bipolar disorder with depression/mania. We offer ECT for clients who are 18 years and older and are: Unresponsive to other forms of treatment.

Does ECT help with 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.

What is ECT therapy?

What is Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? 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.

How often is TMS given?

TMS is usually administered four or five times a week for four-to-six weeks. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) was developed as a treatment for seizure disorders but can also be used to treat depression that has not responded to other therapies.

What are the side effects of ECT?

The most common side effects of ECT on the day of treatment include nausea, headache, fatigue, confusion, and slight memory loss, which may last minutes to hours.

What is the treatment for ECT?

This typically means psychotherapy and/or medication or, in some circumstances, ongoing ECT treatments.

How long does a seizure last after a brain surgery?

The patient's brain is stimulated with a brief controlled series of electrical pulses. This causes a seizure within the brain that lasts for approximately a minute. The patient is asleep for the procedure and awakens after 5-10 minutes, much as from minor surgery.

What is consent process?

In situations where a person is too ill to make decisions for him or herself, the consent process is governed by state law (for example, a court-appointed guardian). Patients and their families should discuss all options for treatment with the psychiatrist before making a specific treatment decision.

Is ECT good for depression?

Extensive research has found ECT to be highly effective for the relief of major depression. Clinical evidence indicates that for individuals with uncomplicated, but severe major depression, ECT will produce substantial improvement in approximately 80 percent of patients. It is also used for other severe mental illnesses, ...

What is ECT therapy?

What Is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)? Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a form of psychiatric treatment that involves inducing seizures with the use of electrical stimulation while an individual is under general anesthesia. An estimated one million people worldwide have ECT each year. 1.

What is ECT used for?

ECT is most often used for cases of treatment-resistant depression and some other psychiatric conditions including bipolar disorder and psychosis, although its use still remains somewhat controversial in the general public.

How often is ECT given?

ECT is typically given two to three times a week initially for an average of six to 12 sessions and is often tapered over time. A newer ECT technique, right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy, may allow for fewer memory issues with the treatment.

How many ECT patients are women?

Approximately 70% of ECT patients are women. More than a third of ECT patients are age 65 and older. 3 Use in children and teens remains relatively rare. Some states, including Colorado and Texas, prohibit the use of ECT in children and adolescents under the age of 16.

Why does ECT work?

Researchers don't yet know the precise reason why ECT works, but one theory is that it helps to correct imbalances in the brain’s chemical messenger system. Others say that the seizure "resets" the brain. Several treatments may be needed to see a lasting effect. 9.

How effective is ECT?

Effectiveness: ECT has shown a high level of efficacy in the treatment of some conditions.

When was ECT first used?

ECT was first introduced in 1938 and by 1941 was used by nearly half of the mental health institutions in the United States. 2 Stigma as well as the emergence of effective psychiatric medications led to a decline in its use, although its prevalence has increased in recent decades. 2. Approximately 70% of ECT patients are women.

What is ECT therapy?

Due to this therapy’s quick results compared to medication and talk therapy, it may be a choice for you if you’re experiencing: During ECT, an electric current is used to trigger a seizure in the brain. The session takes place under anesthesia, and muscle relaxants are administered to ensure you remain injury-free.

What are the two types of ECT?

Bilateral ECT. Electrodes are placed on opposites sides of the head to affect the entire brain. Unilateral ECT. One electrode is placed on the top of the head and one on the temple for single-sided brain treatment.

How long does it take to recover from an ECT?

During the seizure, your reactions are closely monitored, with safety as the top priority. Within 5-10 minutes, your ECT treatment is over. You’ll then be taken to a quiet area to recover from the effects of anesthesia. You’ll most likely be able to return home the same day as your ECT session.

Does ECT affect the brain?

Overall, ECT is known to change blood flow and regional metabolism in the brain. Within that process, many factors are linked. Research supports a number of theories, including how this therapy may: reset the brain’s chemical messaging system for dopamine and serotonin.

Is electroconvulsive therapy considered a last resort?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or the therapeutic application of electrical currents to the brain, may sound intimidating, but it might be a helpful option for you. The use of ECT is highly uncommon and considered only as a last resort.

Is ECT safer than anesthesia?

At the time, injuries were common, muscle relaxants weren’t available, and patients didn’t have the benefit of anesthesia. Modern ECT is far safer, though it remains one of the most controversial treatment options in modern psychiatry.

Is electroconvulsive therapy used for depression?

Electroconvulsive therapy is rarely used. An analysis of studies worldwide found that it was used to treat only approximately 0.02% of people with treatment-resistant depression – depression that has not improved with other treatments.

How does ECT work?

ECT works by sending an electric current through the brain. This electrical current, in turn, is thought to alter the chemicals in the brain related to mood. Though it has been misunderstood by the public, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a relatively safe procedure for some people with major depression which is resistant to typical ...

What is an ECT?

Who's a Candidate. ECTs are for people who are not responding to medication and other treatment methods for depression. The classic example is the use of ECT for a person with major depressive disorder who does not respond to large doses of an antidepressant and psychotherapy. ECT is sometimes given in combination with other therapies in hopes ...

How long does ECT treatment last?

The ECT produces a type of seizure in the brain. The treatment lasts only a few minutes. Observation of the treatment might reveal a wiggling of the patient's toes. Shortly after the treatment, the patient wakes up, is checked thoroughly by medical personnel, and is allowed to go back home or to the hospital.

How effective is ECT for catatonic depression?

For catatonic depression (catatonia), in particular, ECT may result in response rates as high as 80 to 100% and appears to be more effective than any other treatment currently available.

What is ECT therapy?

Alternatives. ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy, is an alternative therapy for certain psychiatric illnesses that are not responding to traditional treatments. 1  Learn more about this therapy, including potential side effects, and what it's like to experience ECT.

What is an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorders are common psychiatric illnesses and include: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Panic Disorder. Social Phobia. Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 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. ...

Where are ECTs given?

ECTs are given in safe environments—usually recovery rooms in hospitals where medical professionals and equipment are present. An anesthesiologist and an attending psychiatrist give the treatments, along with ECT trained nurses. 2 . A person is gently sedated, with an anesthetic, and relaxed so there is no pain.

Why do doctors recommend ECT?

However, doctors recommend ECT for some people because it is low risk and carries few side effects. Researchers are still not sure how ECT works, but they understand that it has many effects on the brain, including increasing blood flow and triggering the release of neurotransmitters and hormones.

How does ECT work?

ECT uses electric currents to stimulate a person’s brain to induce a controlled seizure. Researchers do not exactly know how ECT works, but one theory is that it could regulate neurotransmitter activity. This article looks at how ECT works, whether it is an effective treatment, and its controversial history. It also discusses some alternative ...

How long does an ECT last?

An ECT session may last for about 1 hour, which includes 15–20 minutes for the procedure and 20–30 minutes of recovery time. A person may receive ECT two or three times a week for a total of between six and 12 sessions. The frequency and number of sessions will differ among individuals depending on the severity of the condition and ...

Why is ECT negative?

The negative perceptions of ECT originate from previous misuse and the historical lack of consistent administration of general anesthetics or muscle relaxants. Furthermore, when healthcare professionals first introduced ECT, many people did not consent to the therapy.

What is electro shock therapy?

Electroshock therapy, also known as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is a treatment for severe major depression, bipolar depression, and other mental health conditions. Psychiatrists may recommend ECT when a person does not respond well to other treatments. ECT uses electric currents to stimulate a person’s brain to induce a controlled seizure.

How long can you drive after ECT?

After the session, a person must not drive for 24 hours. They should also try to arrange for someone to stay with them until they go to sleep. Although ECT is an effective treatment, a person will need to continue their medication and receive more ECT sessions to prevent a relapse.

Is ECT a negative thing?

The media has tended to portray ECT in a negative light — for example, in the film version of “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”. However, attitudes toward ECT are changing, and people are beginning to view it as an effective treatment for those with mental health conditions that are resistant to medication and therapy.

How Does Electric Shock Treatment Work?

Patients under general anesthesia are given short bursts of electric pulses through nodes attached to the patient’s head. These small bursts of electricity trigger tiny seizures which, for reasons that have yet to be fully determined, can alleviate symptoms or even improve neurobiological health for longer-term relief. Here’s what is known so far:

What Is ECT Used To Treat?

Electroconvulsive therapy is most commonly used to treat severe depression. It has often been successful in the treatment of serious mental illness where other treatment methods have failed.

Electroconvulsive Therapy Side Effects

The most common side effects of ECT include confusion immediately after treatment (which only lasts a few hours at most and primarily only affects older adults) and memory loss. In most cases, the memory loss is temporary and short-term, leaving patients with difficulty recalling events immediately before treatment.

Why is ECT used?

Understandably, people benefiting from ECT want normalcy without the label of mental illness. ECT is often used in critical situations in an effort to avoid suicide. I know from personal experience. After three suicide attempts, ECT provided a quick and clear path out of my depression.

Does ECT have a lifetime guarantee?

Health does not come with a lifetime guarantee. As with any major medical procedure, patients must compare risks to benefits, then decide if the upside outweighs the risks. ConnECT group films a piece about their experience with ECT. Some who consider ECT worry about memory loss.

Is ECT good for depression?

For those who are profoundly depressed, the medical community often cites ECT as the gold standard, with a high remission of symptoms, far better than antidepressants alone.

Does ECT cause brain damage?

When ECT is properly administered, brain damage does not occur. In fact, research has shown that ECT increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which stimulates brain cell growth.

Does ECT work temporarily?

Some argue that ECT only works temporarily, the high relapse rate invalidating the procedure. Sackeim et. al. reported in the Journal of American Medical Association in 2001 that 61% of the patients treated with a combination of medication and ECT were in remission at 6 months.

Is ECT safe?

ECT: An Effective and Safe Treatment. There is consistent evidence of benefits following state-of-the-art modified ECT. The article by John Read, PhD, and colleagues argues in favor of suspending the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) due to a lack of efficacy data and unacceptable adverse effects, specifically, brain damage.

Is ECT an established treatment?

Key Efficacy Findings From Recent Studies. Since ECT is considered to be an established treatment, it can be used as an active comparator in a noninferiority paradigm, avoiding the ethical dilemma of treating very ill patients with a placebo treatment.

Is ECT outdated?

In summary, the concerns that were raised about ECT are commonly shared by the general public, and they are based on data from older studies that used the methodology now considered outdated both in terms of ECT practice and analytic techniques. Read and colleagues did not consider more recent, state-of-the-art clinical trial data that corroborate more than 75 years of clinical experience supporting the efficacy of ECT in a population of patients who suffer significant disability, increased medical comorbidity, and increased mortality.

Does ECT cause heart rate to increase?

The other safety concerns raised were an increased risk of major cardiac adverse events and an increased risk of death from ECT. While ECT does cause dramatic swings in heart rate and blood pressure, these effects are transient and well known.

Does ECT cause brain damage?

The main safety concern raised by Read and coauthors is that ECT causes brain damage. Specifically, they argued that the changes to autobiographical memory and the memory difficulties reported by patients following ECT treatment are evidence of brain damage.

Does ECT affect memory?

Perhaps the most interesting finding regarding the memory effects of ECT is that the hippocampal volume, which has been shown to decrease in major depression, increases following a course of ECT treatment. 11 This finding has been supported by 2 recent studies.

What is ECT in medical terms?

ECT involves passing electric currents through a patient's brain to cause seizures or fits. Dr John Read, of the University of East London said there was "no place" for ECT in evidence-based medicine due to risks of brain damage.

How many people were given ECT in 2017?

But the Royal College of Psychiatrists said ECT offers "life-saving treatment" and should continue in severe cases. At least 1,600 patients were given ECT in the UK and Ireland in 2017, according to psychiatrists.

Can ECT be used for depression?

"On the basis of the clinical trial data, ECT should not be used for depressed individuals.".

Should ECT be suspended?

In response to the study, the Royal College of Psychiatrists said ECT should not be suspended for "some forms of severe mental illness". Dr Rupert McShane, chair of the college's Committee on ECT and Related Treatments, said there was evidence showing "most people who receive ECT see an improvement in their condition".

Is ECT effective for older women?

The article argues the quality of previous studies into ECT is so poor, they "were wrong to conclude anything about efficacy, either during or beyond the treatment period". "There is no evidence that ECT is effective for its target demographic—older women, or its target diagnostic group—severely depressed people, or for suicidal people, ...

Why It's Done

Risks

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

Does Ect Work?

What Are The Steps Involved When Getting ect?

What Are The Risks and Benefits?

Other Brain Stimulation Treatments

• Extensive research has found ECT to be highly effective for the relief of major depression. Clinical evidence indicates that for individuals with uncomplicated, but severe major depression, ECT will produce substantial improvement in approximately 80 percent of patients. It is also used for other severe mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder an...

See more on psychiatry.org

Resources

Overview

How It's Done

Does Ect Cure Depression?

What Ect Treats

See more on verywellmind.com

Who's A Candidate

Side Effects

Overall Safety

Alternatives