| tart --> | | | | the size of the episode. Electrodes are placed on the |
| Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as | | | | patients scalp and a finely controlled electric current is |
| electroshock therapy, is a controversial medical | | | | applied that causes a brief seizure in the brain. |
| treatment that induces a seizure by passing electricity | | | | Because the muscles are relaxed, the seizure will |
| through the patient's brain. ECT was a common | | | | usually be limited to slight movement of the hands and |
| psychiatric treatment until the late 20th century, when it | | | | feet. Patients are carefully monitored during the |
| fell into disuse as better drug therapies became readily | | | | treatment. The patient awakens minutes later and |
| available for more psychiatric conditions. It is now | | | | does not remember the treatment or events |
| reserved for severe cases of depression in such | | | | surrounding the treatment. |
| illnesses as major depression and the depression | | | | Side effects may result from the anesthesia, the ECT |
| associated with bipolar disorder. It can also be used to | | | | treatment or both. Temporary short-term memory loss |
| treat a manic episode. | | | | can be one of the side effects; this memory loss |
| It is believed that ECT works by using an electrical | | | | usually goes away one to two weeks after treatment. |
| shock to cause a seizure (a short period of irregular | | | | Some people may have longer-lasting problems with |
| brain activity). ECT may be given during an inpatient | | | | memory after ECT. General side effects like |
| stay, or just for outpatient quick treatment. ECT is | | | | confusion, nausea, headache, and jaw pain are also |
| given up to three times a week. Usually no more than | | | | common. These side effects may last up to several |
| twelve treatments are needed. Treatment is given by | | | | days after the procedure. In extremely rare cases, |
| a psychiatrist. This seizure releases many chemicals in | | | | ECT can cause heart attack, stroke, or death. People |
| the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, | | | | with certain heart problems usually are not good |
| deliver messages from one brain cell to another. The | | | | candidates for ECT. |
| release of these chemicals makes the brain cells work | | | | While the majority of psychiatrists believe that properly |
| better. A person's mood will improve when his or her | | | | administered ECT is a safe and effective treatment |
| brain cells and chemical messengers work better. | | | | for some conditions, a vocal minority of psychiatrists, |
| In electroconvulsive therapy, an electric current is sent | | | | former patients, antipsychiatry activists, and others |
| through the scalp to the brain. ECT is one of the | | | | strongly criticize the procedure as extremely harmful |
| fastest ways to relieve symptoms in people who | | | | to patients' subsequent mental state. In the early days |
| suffer from mania or severe depression. ECT is | | | | of use, ECT was administered without anaesthesia or |
| generally used as a last resort when the illness does | | | | muscle relaxants. Patients were frequently injured as a |
| not respond to medication or therapy. It can be used | | | | side effect of the induced seizure. |
| when a patient cannot take medication, such as during | | | | ECT has been commonly misused in the past, |
| pregnancy. It is also used when patients pose a | | | | sometimes as a punishment for patients hospitalized in |
| severe threat to themselves or others and it is | | | | mental institutions. ECT was sometimes abused by |
| dangerous to wait until medication takes effect. | | | | unethical mental health professionals as a means of |
| Prior to an ECT treatment, the patient is given a | | | | punishing and controlling unruly or uncooperative |
| muscle relaxant and put under general anesthesia. | | | | patients. Many people came to view ECT unfavorably |
| ECT, when done correctly, will cause the patient to | | | | after negative depictions of it in several books and |
| have a seizure, and the muscle relaxant is given to limit | | | | films. |