Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for certain mental illnesses. During this therapy, electrical currents are sent through the brain to induce a seizure.
The procedure has been shown to help people withclinical depression. It’s most often used to treat people who don’t respond to medication or talk therapy.
ECT has a varied past. When ECT was first introduced in the 1930s, it was known as “electroshock therapy.” In its early use, patients regularly suffered broken bones and related injuries during therapy.
Muscle relaxants weren’t available to control the violent convulsions ECT caused. Because of this, it’s considered one of the most controversial treatments in modern psychiatry.
In modern ECT, electrical currents are administered more carefully, in a more controlled manner. Also, the patient is given muscle relaxants and sedated to reduce the risk of injury.
Today, both the American Medical Association and the National Institutes of Mental Health support the use of ECT.
ECT is most often used as a treatment of last resort for the following disorders:
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorderis characterized by periods of intense energy and elation (mania) that may or may not be followed by severe depression.
Major depressive disorder
This is a common mental disorder. People withmajor depressive disorderexperience frequent low moods. They may also no longer enjoy activities they once found pleasurable.
Schizophrenia
This psychiatric diseasetypically causes:
- paranoia
- hallucinations
- delusions
There are two major types of ECT:
- unilateral
- bilateral
In bilateral ECT, electrodes are placed on either side of your head. The treatment affects your entire brain.
在单边等,一个电极is placed on the top of your head. The other is placed on your right temple. This treatment affects only the right side of your brain.
Some hospitals use “ultra-brief” pulses during ECT. These last less than half a millisecond, compared to the standard one-millisecond pulse. The shorter pulses are believed to help prevent memory loss.
To prepare for ECT, you’ll need to stop eating and drinking for a specified period of time. You may also need to change certain medications. Your doctor will let you know how to plan.
On the day of the procedure, your doctor will give you general anesthesia and muscle relaxants. These medications will help prevent convulsions associated with the seizure activity. You’ll fall asleep before the procedure and not remember it afterward.
Your doctor will place two electrodes on your scalp. A controlled electrical current will be passed between the electrodes. The current causes a brain seizure, which is a temporary change in the brain’s electrical activity. It will last between 30 and 60 seconds.
During the procedure, your heart rhythm and blood pressure will be monitored. As an outpatient procedure, you’ll typically go home the same day.
Most people benefit from ECT in as few as 8 to 12 sessions over 3 to 6 weeks. Some patients require a once-a-month maintenance treatment, although some may require a different maintenance schedule.
According to Dr. Howard Weeks of the Treatment Resistant Mood Disorder Clinic at UNI, ECT therapy has a70 to 90 percentsuccess rate when it comes to patients getting better. This compares to a50 to 60 percentsuccess rate for those taking medications.
The reason ECT is so effective remains unclear. Someresearchersbelieve it helps to correct an imbalance in the brain’s chemical messenger system. Anothertheory是收获ure somehow resets the brain.
ECT works for many people when drugs or psychotherapy are ineffective. There are typically fewer side effects than with medications.
ECT works quickly to relieve psychiatric symptoms. Depression or mania may resolve after only one or two treatments. Many medications require weeks to take effect. Therefore, ECT can be especially beneficial for those who are:
- suicidal
- psychotic
- catatonic
However, some people may require maintenance ECT, or medications, to maintain the benefits of ECT. Your doctor will need to monitor your progress closely to determine the best follow-up care for you.
ECT may be safely used on both pregnant women and those with heart conditions.
Side effects associated with ECT are uncommon and generally mild. They can include:
- headache or muscle ache in the hours following treatment
- 治疗后不久混乱
- nausea, usually shortly after a treatment
- short-term or long-term memory loss
- irregular heart rate, which is a rare side effect
ECT can be fatal, but deaths are extremely rare. About
If you or a loved one is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call 911 or theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat 1-800-273-8255 right away.