what is it called when they force you to do ect treatment

What is ECT used to treat?

ECT is also used for people who require a rapid treatment response because of the severity of their condition, such as being at risk for suicide. ECT’s effectiveness in treating severe mental illnesses is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association,...

What should I do if I want ECT?

Your doctor should offer you ECT if they think that it is a good option for you. They should explain the pros and cons of treatment. Your relatives, carers or an advocate should be involved in the discussion too. You will be medically examined to make sure you’re well enough to have the ECT. If you don’t want ECT you don’t have to have it.

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

Ongoing treatment may be ECT with less frequency, but more often, it includes antidepressants or other medications, or psychological counseling (psychotherapy). What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?

Can ECT be used to treat catatonia?

A person with catatonia can seriously injure themselves or develop severe dehydration from not eating or drinking. ECT is typically used when other treatments, including medications and psychotherapy, haven’t worked.

How does ECT work?

Doctors are not sure how ECT works. But they think that ECT changes the way the chemicals in your brain work. Changes to these chemicals seem to have a positive effect on some mental health symptoms. It is thought that ECT can make these chemicals work better in your brain.

When should ECT be used?

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that ECT should only be used when: all other treatments have not worked, or. your illness may be life-threatening. But ECT should not be used as a long-term treatment to prevent a depressive episode coming back.

What is ECT therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for severe symptoms of depression, mania and catatonia. This section explains what ECT is, when it is used and your rights to refuse this treatment.

What is ECT in medical terms?

ECT is a treatment for some mental illnesses. ECT is when electrical currents are passed through your brain to cause seizures or fits. The seizures or fits can be very small and minor. They usually last less than a minute. There are 2 types of ECT. Bilateral ECT.

How long does ECT last?

Unilateral ECT. This is when the current is only on one side of your head. ECT will last about 5 to 10 minutes. With extra time for preparation and recovery. Before you get ECT, doctors will give you muscle-relaxing medicine.

What to ask your doctor about ECT?

Ask your doctor for information on ECT. Your doctor should document both the risks and benefits of ECT. As part of the assessment the doctor will think about: the risks of having an anaesthetic, whether you have other illnesses, the possible side effects of ECT, and.

Can ECT cause memory loss?

heart problems, in rare cases. But for some people it is not clear if memory problems experienced are caused by ECT or if they are a symptom of long-term mental illness.

How often do you have to do ECT?

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. As the treatment course progresses, short-term memory loss for things recently learned is not uncommon.

How long does it take to get an ECT?

The ECT procedure takes around five to 10 minutes to perform, not including preparation and recovery time. The day before the procedure, you would be placed on dietary restrictions, typically with no food or drink allowed after midnight and only a sip of water permitted in the morning to take medication.

What doctor would you meet with to see if you have had anesthesia?

You may also meet with the anesthesiologist who will inquire whether you have had anesthesia in the past and if there were any adverse reactions.

Is electroconvulsive therapy safe?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for certain psychiatric disorders such as major depression, catatonia, certain types of psychosis, and sometime for bipolar mania .

Is ECT scary?

While ECT is a scary concept to most people, by understanding the procedure and what to expect, you can make a more informed choice if the treatment is recommended for you. Overview of Electroconvulsive Therapy.

What is the treatment for ECT?

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

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.

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 effective for mental health?

ECT’s effectiveness in treating severe mental illnesses is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, the National Institute of Mental Health, and similar organizations in Canada, Great Britain and many other countries. Although ECT can be very effective for many individuals with serious mental illness, ...

What is ECT?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a depression treatment that involves the stimulation of the brain with a controlled electrical current.

What Does ECT Treat?

ECT treats severe resistant depression and although it is exactly unclear to scientists and researchers how ECT is so effective, it has proven to be quite effective.

How Effective is ECT for Depression?

Over the past 2 or 3 decades, research has shown that about 47% to 75% of patients who have undergone the procedure have fully recovered from their depressive symptoms.

Side Effects of ECT

Electroconvulsive Therapy is a generally safe treatment for depression but like every other treatment, there are a few side effects.

ECT vs Other Treatment Options That Work

Depression is one of the easiest mental illnesses to tackle today because there are many treatment options.

How We Can Help You

TMS is the future of depression therapy and we are excited to be a part of this movement.

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.

How long does a brief pulse of electricity last?

A brief pulse of electricity is sent through the brain, typically for 0.5 to 2.0 milliseconds (ms). Ultra-brief pulses of less than 0.5 ms are considered more tolerable and may be used to help minimize any potential memory loss. This electrical pulse causes a seizure that lasts 15 to 70 seconds.

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.

What is ECT in medical terms?

Major depressive disorder. ECT should be considered for patients in the acute phase of major depressive disorder who have a history of treatment resistance (as defined by greater than two antidepressant trials), high degree of symptom severity, or who have psychotic symptoms. [ 22] .

What is ECT in mental health?

ECT uses an electric current to cause a seizure in the brain and is one of the fastest ways to treat severe symptoms of mental illness . It should be considered when a patient does not improve with medication or psychotherapy or when the severity of symptoms is life-threatening.

What is ECT for schizophrenia?

ECT is indicated for selected patients with catatonia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder , schizophrenia, and other disorders. Catatonia. Considered one of the most lethal psychiatric disorders, few treatments are currently available for the treatment of catatonia.

How often is ECT performed?

In the United States, ECT is most commonly performed 3 times per week regardless of electrode placement. [ 1] . Treatments 2 times per week may result in less memory impairment than treatments 3 times per week and can be used in patients who are sensitive to adverse effects from ECT or general anesthesia. [ 1] .

What is the name of the treatment for catatonic schizophrenia?

In 1934, the Hungarian neuropathologist Ladislas Joseph von Meduna began the modern era of convulsive therapy by using intramuscular injection of camphor and pentylenetetrazol to treat catatonic schizophrenia. This approach was dubbed chemical convulsive therapy (CCT). [ 7] In 1938, Italian psychiatrist Lucio Bini and neurologist Ugo Cerletti performed the first electrical induction of seizures in a catatonic patient and produced a successful treatment response. Their electrical stimulation of the ictal response was more reliable than chemical stimulation. Initially the approach was given a variety of names, but the term electroconvulsive therapy was eventually identified as the leading nomenclature. Lothar Kalinowsky, one of Cerletti's assistants, left Italy in 1939 and performed the first ECT in the United States in 1940. [ 8]

Does ECT increase opioids?

[ 17] . Finally, ECT may also lead to an increase of endogenous opioids. [ 18, 19] Although many biomarkers have been studied, no ECT biomarker is routinely used in current clinical practice. [ 15]

Can electroconvulsive therapy be used in elderly?

Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Elderly. Geriatric patients can be particularly sensitive to adverse effects from daily medications, including psychotropic medications. The use of ECT in the elderly population may reduce risks associated with polypharmacy if the number of psychotropic medications can be reduced.

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.

When was the ECT procedure invented?

History of ECT: How the ECT Procedure Developed. The history of ECT begins in the 1500s with the idea of treating mental illness with convulsions. Initially, convulsions were induced by orally taking camphor.

What was used in the 1950s for ECT?

The 1950s also saw the introduction of succinylcholine, a muscle relaxant that was used in combination with a short-acting anesthetic during the ECT procedure to prevent injury and to prevent the patient from feeling the ECT procedure.

What is the ECT standard?

ECT is considered to be the "gold standard" of depression treatment as it produces remission rates of 60% - 70% - far higher than any other known depression treatment.

When was electroconvulsive therapy invented?

The history of modern electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) dates back to 1938 when Italian psychiatrist Lucio Bini and neurologist Ugo Cerletti used electricity to induce a series of seizures to successfully treat a catatonic patient.

When was the first ECT report published?

In 1978, the American Psychiatric Association published the first Task Force Report on ECT designed to outline standard ECT procedures consistent with scientific evidence, and reduce abuse and misuse of the treatment (in earlier years, ECT was used by some to abuse and control mentally ill patients). This report was followed by versions in 1990 and ...

Is ECT still used?

While it was known seizures could treat psychiatric illness, there was no ECT procedure available that would prevent severe ECT side effects like: In spite of these risks, ECT was still used; however, as the only known alternative s were lobotomy and insulin shock treatment.

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

Resources

• Once you have been prepped, your doctor and anesthesiologist will start the procedure, first by putting you under general anesthesia and then by delivering electrical currents through the brain with the following steps: 1. The anesthesiologist delivers two drugs through the IV line: anesthesia to put you asleep and a muscle relaxant to minimize mus...

See more on verywellmind.com