What´s Electroconvulsive Therapy?
When treating a patient with major depressive disorder, finding an effective treatment plan is crucial, especially when many patients with this disorder are unresponsive to medications and psychotherapy. Many psychologists treat major depressive disorder, MDD, with a combination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and psychotherapy techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy. Beidel, Bulik, and Stanley (2014) stated that monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOs), Tricyclics, and SSRIs are the most common medications used for treatment. Although this combination works for some patients, many are unresponsive to this treatment. The main goals for antidepressants is to balance the neurotransmitters in one’s
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brain that affect mood and emotions. In some cases, patients do not respond to these antidepressant and it has no effect on their mood or emotions (Garrett, 2015). Finding a safe and effective treatment for those with MDD is imperative to help those patients who do not respond to other forms of treatment.
Electroconvulsive therapy is a process where small electric currents are guided through the brain, which generates a short-term seizure.
ECT causes changes in brain chemistry, which rapidly reverses symptoms of depression (Garrett, 2015). For many patients, electroconvulsive therapy is a one time, cure-all treatment plan. Once someone has received this treatment, some may no longer need to worry about having major depressive disorder. A study found that the total improvement in hospitalized patients treated with ECT was approximately 90% while the improvement for those who were treated with antidepressants and therapy was only 60%. At the end of the seven weeks of hospitalization, 74% of the patients who received ECT had been discharged, which is significantly more than those who were treated with antidepressants: 54% (Homan, Lachenbruch, Winokur, & Clayton, 1982). This study illustrates that those who are treated with ECT are more likely to show improvements in symptoms than those who are treated with antidepressants and psychotherapy. Introduction to Psychology (2015) stated, roughly 80% of patients who go through ECT feel dramatic relief from their depression. This statitics shows that ECT has a high response rate compared to other forms of treatment. ECT is a more effective form of treatment than antidepressants and psychotherapy for those with MDD. Since many people diagnosed with major depressive disorder are unresponsive to medication and psychotherapy, psychologists
should use ECT, electroconvulsive therapy, as the main form of treatment for those with this disorder because it is more effective in overall treatment.
brain that affect mood and emotions. In some cases, patients do not respond to these antidepressant and it has no effect on their mood or emotions (Garrett, 2015). Finding a safe and effective treatment for those with MDD is imperative to help those patients who do not respond to other forms of treatment.
Electroconvulsive therapy is a process where small electric currents are guided through the brain, which generates a short-term seizure.
ECT causes changes in brain chemistry, which rapidly reverses symptoms of depression (Garrett, 2015). For many patients, electroconvulsive therapy is a one time, cure-all treatment plan. Once someone has received this treatment, some may no longer need to worry about having major depressive disorder. A study found that the total improvement in hospitalized patients treated with ECT was approximately 90% while the improvement for those who were treated with antidepressants and therapy was only 60%. At the end of the seven weeks of hospitalization, 74% of the patients who received ECT had been discharged, which is significantly more than those who were treated with antidepressants: 54% (Homan, Lachenbruch, Winokur, & Clayton, 1982). This study illustrates that those who are treated with ECT are more likely to show improvements in symptoms than those who are treated with antidepressants and psychotherapy. Introduction to Psychology (2015) stated, roughly 80% of patients who go through ECT feel dramatic relief from their depression. This statitics shows that ECT has a high response rate compared to other forms of treatment. ECT is a more effective form of treatment than antidepressants and psychotherapy for those with MDD. Since many people diagnosed with major depressive disorder are unresponsive to medication and psychotherapy, psychologists
should use ECT, electroconvulsive therapy, as the main form of treatment for those with this disorder because it is more effective in overall treatment.