where to go for ect treatment

When to stop ECT treatments?

The immediate side effects of the procedure which may last for about an hour include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Muscle aches and soreness
• Disorientation and confusion

How effective is ECT therapy?

This report stated that ECT was an effective treatment for severe depression, mania and some states of psychosis, leading to remission in 60% to 70% of cases. The therapy was not shown to be effective, however, as a treatment for dysthymia, anxiety disorder, personality disorder or substance abuse.

How many ECT treatments are needed?

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 much does ECT treatment cost?

With eight as the average number of treatments, this means a course of ECT treatment will usually cost between $2,400 and $6,400. The cost of ECT is at least partially reimbursed by most insurance plans offering coverage for mental disorders.

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How do you qualify for ECT?

Before having your first ECT treatment, you'll need a full evaluation, which usually includes:Medical history.Complete physical exam.Psychiatric assessment.Basic blood tests.Electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart health.Discussion of the risks of anesthesia.

Can a psychiatrist do ECT?

ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. It is typically administered by a team of trained medical professionals that includes a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a nurse or physician assistant.

What is the cost of ECT treatment?

ECT treatments cost $300 to $1,000 per treatment, with an initial course requiring five to 15 treatments followed by 10 to 20 maintenance treatments per year, the researchers noted. That means the annual cost can be more than $10,000, compared with a cost of several hundred dollars for many antidepressant medications.

Do you have to be hospitalized for ECT?

ECT is commonly done on an outpatient basis, but may be done as inpatient treatment when patients require hospitalization due to severe suicidality or inability to eat.

Does ECT worsen anxiety?

The concern of some psychiatrists is that while ECT may help with depressive symptoms, it could worsen anxiety symptoms, including obsessional thoughts or panic attacks.

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 insurance cover ECT?

An ECT session costs around $2,500 per session, including anesthesia. There may be extra costs if a hospital stay is needed. ECT costs are covered by most health insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Why is ECT a last resort?

ECT is too often considered as a last resort, rather than as a first-line treatment, a status that some states have even written into law. ECT's controversial history and the consequent reluctance of patients to accept it without trying other alternatives may also be a barrier to its increased use.

What is the success rate of ECT?

Typically, ECT (whether inpatient or outpatient) is given two to three times a week for a total of six to twelve sessions. Some patients may need more or fewer treatments. These sessions improve depression in 70 to 90 percent of patients, a response rate much higher than that of antidepressant drugs.

Can ECT be done as an outpatient?

It's more common to have ECT as an inpatient in a hospital, which means you will stay in hospital overnight. But outpatient treatment is sometimes possible – this means you won't have to stay overnight.

What happens if ECT doesn't work for depression?

If nothing else has helped, including ECT, and you are still severely depressed, you may be offered neurosurgery for mental disorder (NMD), deep brain stimulation (DBS) or vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

Does ECT damage the brain?

The review of literature and present evidence suggests that ECT has a demonstrable impact on the structure and function of the brain. However, there is a lack of evidence at present to suggest that ECT causes brain damage.

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 treatment?

During an ECT treatment, patients undergo general anesthesia, and while asleep, patients receive an electrical stimulus to their scalp which conducts to the brain. This electric stimulation helps patients experience resolution of, or a decrease in, symptoms of their illness.

What is ECT therapy?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Electroconvulsive Therapy, or ECT, is one method of treating acute and persistent mental illness.

How long does a seizure last after a psychiatrist treats a patient?

This electricity causes a brief seizure that usually lasts less than one minute. Patients wake up gradually while their vital signs continue to be monitored.

What are the side effects of ECT?

Possible side effects. Headaches, nausea, dry mouth, and sore muscles are among the possible side effects of ECT. These side effects can be treated using appropriate medications as prescribed by a doctor. Temporary memory loss and confusion may also occur after ECT.

Can you eat before an ECT?

They must not eat or drink anything for a period beginning at midnight the night before their ECT treatment and ending after the procedure has been completed. Doctors may order certain medications to be taken at home with a small sip of water the morning of an ECT treatment.

When is ECT administered?

ECT treatment is generally administered in the morning, before breakfast. Prior to the actual treatment, the patient is given general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant. Electrodes are then attached to the patients scalp and an electric current is applied which causes a brief convulsion. Minutes later, the patient awakens confused ...

How many people are treated with ECT?

Today, ECT is administered to an estimated 100,000 people a year, primarily in general hospital psychiatric units and in psychiatric hospitals. It is generally used in treating patients with severe depression, acute mania, and certain schizophrenic syndromes.

What is ECT in medical terms?

What is ECT? Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure in which a brief application of electric stimulus is used to produce a generalized seizure. It is not known how or why ECT works or what the electrically stimulated seizure does to the brain.

Is ECT a long term treatment?

After 60 years of use, ECT is still the most controversial psychiatr ic treatment. Much of the controversy surrounding ECT revolves around its effectiveness vs. the side effects, the objectivity of ECT experts, and the recent increase in ECT as a quick and easy solution, instead of long-term psychotherapy or hospitalization.

Is ECT a history of abuse?

The nature of ECT, its history of abuse, unfavorable medical and media reports, and testimony from former patients all contribute to the debate surrounding its use. Research should continue, and techniques should be refined to maximize the efficacy and minimize the risks and side effects resulting from ECT.

Is ECT effective after a relapse?

It is also unclear whether or not ECT is effective. In some cases, the numbers are extremely favorable, citing 80 percent improvement in severely depressed patients, after ECT. However, other studies indicate that the relapse is high, even for patients who take medication after ECT.

What does the Procedure Involve?

At the beginning of an ECT, you will receive general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant to help prevent injury and minimize the seizure. Your doctor will place a blood pressure cuff around one of your ankles to stop the muscle relaxant medications from entering foot and entering the muscles there.

How Long Should I Stay in United States?

ECT can be performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can leave the hospital on the same day. However, you may need a series of treatments, usually a total of six to twelve treatments, given in two to three times a week for three to four weeks. The number of treatments you will need depends on your symptoms and how quickly they improve.

What's the Recovery Time?

Most people can return to their normal daily activities just a few hours after ECT. However, some people may be asked to avoid making important decisions, going back to work, or driving for one to two weeks following the last ECT treatment in a series.

What's the Success Rate?

Research has shown that ECT is a highly effective therapy for several mental health conditions. Around 80% of patients with uncomplicated but severe depression experience substantial improvement after their treatments.

What Should You Expect Before and After the Procedure

Before ECT, you may have a certain mental health condition and experience severe symptoms that are thought to be life-threatening or they do not improve after other treatment options. After the treatment, you may notice an improvement in your symptoms, which may take around six weeks.

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How can families help with ECT?

Families can help by providing a gentle reminder of the day and date and that feeling confused is to be expected. Family members should inform the nurse of any concern they have about their loved one. View a Powerpoint Presentation for Families about ECT.

How does ECT work?

Why does ECT work? No one is sure how ECT helps certain psychiatric disorders. It may promote changes in how brain cells communicate with each other at synapses and it may stimulate the development of new brain cells. ECT may flood the brain with neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are known to be involved in conditions like ...

How long does an ECT procedure last?

How long is an ECT procedure? 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). Typically, ECT (whether inpatient or outpatient) is given two to three times a week for a total ...

How long does it take to drive after ECT?

Usually this takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Patients who are given ECT on an outpatient basis must have someone drive them home after the procedure and stay with them until they go to sleep at night. People should not drive in the 24 hours following ECT.

What are the two electrodes used for?

Two of these electrodes are for monitoring the brain waves. The other two are for delivering a short, controlled set of electrical pulses for a few seconds. The electrical pulses must produce a generalized seizure to be effective.

How long does it take to sleep before ECT?

During the procedure, the patient receives a short acting anesthetic agent which puts the patient to sleep for approximately 5-10 minutes.

Can memories be lost after ECT?

Memories formed closer to the time of ECT are at greater risk of being lost while those formed long before ECT are at less risk of being lost. The ability to form new memories is also impaired after a course of ECT treatments but this ability usually makes a full recovery in the weeks and months following the last treatment.

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.

Can you fall after ECT?

If more ECT treatments are planned for you, ask the healthcare provider to give you medicine before the treatments to help prevent headaches. There is a greater chance that you will fall after ECT treatments . Ask someone to help you when you want to stand up or walk.

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 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.

Is ECT effective for relapse?

Relapse after a positive response to ECT is common. Most frequently, prevention of relapse is accomplished through the use of medication but continuation ECT has also been shown effective for the prevention of illness relapse.

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…

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