Read on to learn more about the uses, benefits, and side effects of ECT.
Uses for ECT
Medication and therapy are first-line treatments for most mental health conditions, but when a disorder or illness does not respond to treatment, a healthcare provider may recommend considering ECT.
The following are some uses for ECT:
Severe depression and treatment-resistant depression Depression with psychosis Severe bipolar disorder Acute states of mania with bipolar disorder Schizophrenia Severe catatonia Suicidal patients who are unable to wait for antidepressants to take effect
Benefits of ECT
One benefit of ECT is speed, in that it can work more quickly than medication.
For example, it can take time (up to four weeks) for anti-depressants to start taking effect in the body and balance the brain’s chemistry. ECT can begin working immediately.
Another benefit of ECT is that is an alternative to medication. This can be helpful for patients who experience difficulty with side effects from their medications.
Side Effects of ECT
ECT, like many medical procedures, does involve some risks. There are risks with general anesthesia as well as the procedure itself. However, in some cases, the risk of untreated illness is riskier than ECT.
Some of the side effects of ECT include:
Headaches Muscle pain Nausea Confusion Memory loss Difficulty learning Cognitive effects
What to Expect
Typically before having ECT, a patient will need a complete psychiatric assessment and medical exam. It’s also important to check heart health with tests such as an electrocardiogram to make sure the heart can handle the procedure.
An important part of the process is informed consent, which requires making sure the patient knows what they are consenting to with the ECT procedure. In the event a person is unable to make decisions for themselves, some states may appoint a court-appointed guardian.
The ECT Procedure
With ECT, the brain is briefly stimulated with electrodes to trigger a controlled seizure. The treatment affects the brain chemistry and balance of neurons and chemicals in the brain.
For many years, ECT was not as highly regulated as it is today. Today’s ECT is a much more comfortable procedure known as modified ECT. There is also significant evidence-based medical research indicating effectiveness. Most importantly, informed consent is a vital and essential part of the procedure.
A patient typically receives a total of six to 12 treatments based on the severity of symptoms.
At the start of the procedure, the patient is given a muscle relaxant and put under general anesthesia by a healthcare provider or anesthesiologist, so they are asleep and unable to feel any pain during the procedure.
Electrodes are attached to the scalp, and the brain is then stimulated with a brief and controlled series of electrical impulses. This causes the brain to have a controlled, general seizure that occurs for about a minute.
The patient usually awakens around five to 10 minutes after the procedure.
Results With ECT
ECT is considered the most effective treatment for severe, untreatable depression. In cases of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression, remission is achieved in about 50% of cases. In depression with psychotic features, remission rates range from 63% to as high as 95%.
Generally, some patients require fewer treatments than others to reach remission. For patients with bipolar depression, multiple studies indicate that fewer ECT sessions were needed to put it into remission.
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is a medical treatment that involves electrically stimulating the brain with electrodes to prompt a general seizure. This impacts the neurochemicals of the brain. It has been found to be a safe and effective treatment for treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder, as well as other mental health disorders not responding to medication and therapy.
A Word From Verywell
While ECT is a safe and effective treatment, it is not a cure. Medication and therapy are often still needed. If you are suffering from a severe mental illness that is not responding to traditional treatments, speak with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of ECT.
