Shri Rishi Psychiatry Clinic - Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Center
What is Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
ECT the most stigmatized procedure among entire treatment modalities in the medical fraternity. But in reality, it is one of the most effective and in some situations only treatment modality available to treat different Psychiatric manifestations of different disorders.
ECT is a safe and effective treatment in treating the debilitating symptoms of major depression, bipolar disorder (mania and depression), some forms of schizophrenia, dementia with an underlying mood disorder, among other diagnoses. It can be a life-saving treatment if a rapid response is needed.
When you think about a defibrillator, most people think about an up to the date, state of the art and life-saving treatment. When you think about Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), you get all the misleading media-propagated images in your mind, because Of stigma of mental illness and ECT is suffering from.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was introduced in its current form by Cerletti and Bini in 1938. Since then it’s subjected to controversy and antipathy by media and public alike. When most people think of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, they imagine a stripped-down patient writhing in pain.
ECT helps to improve or even eliminate the depressive symptoms an individual is experiencing. The benefits of ECT include: improved mood, increased pleasure, more restful sleep, better appetite, more positive attitude, less agitation, increased sexual interest, more energy, clearer thinking, and more hope.
ECT is similar to medications, however, it works faster. A series of 6 – 12 treatments is given three times each week over a period of 4 – 5 weeks.
A treatment team made up of a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist and registered nurse (RN) will care for each patient. The patient receives a brief anesthetic medication to put them off to sleep. Once the patient is asleep, a brief electrical stimulus is given to the brain which causes a grand mal seizure. Because a muscle relaxation is given, very little muscle movement is visible, typically just the hands and feet move.
ECT has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment, especially when medications have been ineffective. It is a great option for these individuals.