What are ECT drugs?
Learn about Electroconvulsive, therapy. 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.
Is ECT used for substance abuse?
Conclusion. the current available evidence does not support using ECT for the treatment of addictive disorders, and hence is unethical, unacceptable and inhumane and warrants immediate social and political attention.
How does ECT work in psychology?
Overview. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions.
Is ECT a pharmacological treatment?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is equally effective for unipolar and bipolar depression,2 however, the rate of use of ECT varies considerably between countries,3 and, in clinical guidelines, ECT is often considered only after multiple pharmacological agents have been tried.
Is ECT used for schizophrenia?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was initially used for the treatment of schizophrenia, but over the years with the advent of antipsychotics, its use in schizophrenia has been limited. Treatment guidelines vary in their recommendations for the use of ECT in schizophrenia.
Can ECT cause psychosis?
A common cause of psychotic symptoms such as hallucination, delusions and thought disorder after ECT may also occur in the course of delirium-type impaired consciousness [10–13].
Is ECT more effective than drug therapy?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is more effective than drug treatment for short term depressive illness but may be associated with memory impairment, according to a systematic review published last week in the Lancet (2003;361:799-808).
Is ECT used for bipolar disorder?
NYU Langone psychiatrists sometimes use electroconvulsive therapy, also known as ECT, to treat people with bipolar disorder that does not respond to other types of treatment, such as therapy and medications. ECT involves sending an electric current through the brain to cause a controlled seizure.
Can ECT make you manic?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective and safe treatment for mania. However, there are several articles that document induced mania due to ECT. The incidence of ECT-induced mania may be as high as 24 percent.
Is ECT used for bipolar?
What is ECT therapy (ECT)?
What Is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)? Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a form of psychiatric treatment that involves inducing seizures with the use of electrical stimulation while an individual is under general anesthesia. An estimated one million people worldwide have ECT each year. 1
How many electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments are there?
In the United States, ECT treatments are generally given two to three times weekly for three to four weeks — for a total of six to 12 treatments. Some doctors use a newer technique called right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy that’s done daily on weekdays.
What kind of medications will I receive with ECT?
You may receive other medications, depending on any health conditions you have or your previous reactions to ECT. A blood pressure cuff placed around one ankle stops the muscle relaxant medication from entering your foot and affecting the muscles there.
When did electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) become popular?
It became a popular psychiatric technique during the 1940s and 1950s, particularly in the treatment of severe depression. Stigma attached to the use of ECT led to a decline in its use during the 1960s.