Clinical depression ECT
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
ECT
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as electroshock or electroshock treatment, uses short bursts of a controlled current of electricity (typically fixed at 0.9 ampere) into the brain to induce a brief, artificial seizure while the patient is under general anesthesia.
- In contrast to direct electroshock of years ago, most countries now allow ECT to be administered only under anesthesia.
- In a typical regimen of treatment, a patient receives three treatments per week over three or four weeks. Repeat sessions may be needed.
- Short-term memory loss, disorientation, and headache are common side effects. Detailed neuropsychological testing in clinical studies has not been able to prove permanent effects on memory.
- ECT offers the benefit of a very fast response; however, this response has been shown not to last unless maintenance electroshock or maintenance medication is used. Whereas antidepressants usually take around a month to take effect, the results of ECT have been shown to be much faster. For this reason, it is the treatment of choice in emergencies (e.g., in catatonic depression in which the patient has ceased oral intake of fluid or nutrients).
- ECT is most helpful in treating refractory major depressive disorder and major depressive episodes with psychotic features.