Electroconvulsive Therapy Essay

vulsive Therapy (ECT)

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a procedure used to treat depression. Depression is the primary illness that ECT is often used to treat; however, people with a psychiatric emergency of catatonia, mania, and bipolar disorder may benefit from ECT as well. The title of the procedure basically explains its purpose and process. ECT uses electricity to cause a slight seizure to help treat depression, catatonia, and bipolar disorder. To be approved for ECT, the patient must have exhausted other treatment and the effects were unwanted or unsuccessful. The patient must also be medically stable to handle the induced seizures. Additionally, ECT is appropriate for patient that are severely depressed to the point of suicide ideation/attempt
and the patient need immediate treatment. Uniquely, ECT is appropriate for pregnant women. The procedure does not affect the pregnancy or the fetus. In fact, the procedure is safe during all trimesters.
After observing ECT, I notice the preparation takes longer than the actual procedure. Before the electro shock, the patient is anesthetized and receives a muscle relaxer, that lasts two minutes. In combination, the anesthesia and muscle relaxer put the patient to sleep, prevent the patient’s body from convulsing violently, and reduce the chances of bone and tissue damage. Addition to the anesthesia and muscle relaxer, the staff preps the patient by placing EKG, ECG, and EMG sensors, finger probes, a blood pressure cuff, and a mouth guard to monitor the actual seizure and the patient’s brain activity, blood oxygen level, and blood pressure during the seizure. The mouth guards prevent clenching/biting of teeth that can potentially cause mouth damage. The seizure tends to last 25-90 seconds.
Although the effects and success rates vary, a full ECT treatment is usually 6-12 treatments.
Patients may have the procedure inpatient or outpatient depending on the severity of the patient’s diagnosis and response to first treatment. Patients tend to have their first 3 treatment within a week and stay in the hospital (inpatient). After the first three treatment, the patient may return once or twice a month for other treatments, commonly known as maintenance treatments. It is important to note that ECT does not cure depression. The symptoms may return years later and a second set of treatments is needed. Generally, patients may feel better after 4 to 5 treatment. Family members and friends often see the results before the patients realizes they are getting
better.
ECT is not for everyone.
Unfortunately, ECT may not work for every depressed patient. Research suggest that ECT works in seventy percent of depressed cases. There are two ways to place the electro probes on the patient’s head, unilateral and bilateral. Unilateral, one side of the brain, is most common because the success rate of less memory loss is high. Memory loss is a common side effect of ECT; whether short term or long term, memory loss will more than likely occur. Other side effects include: headaches, nausea, muscle soreness, and confusion. As with any surgical procedure, there is a chance of death. The chances of death are 1 in 10,000 for
ECT.
ECT is rarely used for psychosis. Antiepileptic such as, Depakote and Lithium should be reduced or stopped before the procedure because they will work against the procedure.
Interestingly, patients may receive ECT voluntarily or involuntarily. A person with severe catatonia may require involuntarily ECT if he or she does not take care self to live. For instance, a patient that does not eat or drink may receive ECT involuntarily to prevent death. Unlike how it is present in movies, ECT brings hope to those severely depressed, manic, catatonic, or diagnosed with bipolar. If ECT does not produce wanted results, patient have other options such as Vagal Nerve Stimulation or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.