Conclusions: Electroconvulsive therapy
is effective in the acute treatment of major depressive disorder patients associated with anxiety symptoms
. Anxiety symptoms improved less than depression symptoms during acute electroconvulsive therapy.
Can ECT make anxiety worse?
ECT may have a role in people who have comorbid depression and anxiety. The concern of some psychiatrists is that while ECT may help with depressive symptoms,
it could worsen anxiety symptoms
, including obsessional thoughts or panic attacks.
What mental illness does ECT treat?
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.
When should you not use ECT?
a
past history of moderate or severe depression or
.
initial presentation of subthreshold depressive symptoms
that have been present for a long period (typically at least 2 years) or. subthreshold depressive symptoms or mild depression that persist(s) after other interventions.
Does ECT help with agitation?
ECT was found to be safe and efficacious for agitation and aggression
comorbid with mood disorders in patients with dementia. Findings from a recent open-label study indicate that acute ECT significantly decreased agitated and aggressive behavior by the third session.
Who is a good candidate for ECT?
People who have had ECT before and responded well
are good candidates for ECT. Other first-line indications for the procedure include people who are catatonic or suffering from a form of depression known as psychotic depression (depression associated with delusions and hallucinations).
What is the success rate for ECT?
Typically, ECT (whether inpatient or outpatient) is given two to three times a week for a total of six to twelve sessions. Some patients may need more or fewer treatments. These sessions improve depression in
70 to 90 percent of patients
, a response rate much higher than that of antidepressant drugs.
Has anyone died from ECT?
Conclusion: The ECT-related mortality rate was estimated at
2.1 per 100 000 treatments
. In comparison, a recent analysis of the mortality of general anesthesia in relation to surgical procedures reported a mortality rate of 3.4 per 100 000. Our findings document that death caused by ECT is an extremely rare event.
Why is ECT not used?
As with any type of medical procedure, especially one that involves anesthesia, there are risks of medical complications. During ECT, heart rate and blood pressure increase, and in rare cases, that can lead to serious heart problems. If you have heart problems, ECT may be
more risky
.
Does ECT shorten lifespan?
Some patients may need more or fewer treatments. These sessions improve depression in 70 to 90 percent of patients, a response rate much higher than that of antidepressant drugs. Although ECT is effective,
its benefits are short-lived
.
Can ECT change your personality?
ECT does not change a person's personality
, nor is it designed to treat those with just primary “personality disorders.” ECT can cause transient short-term memory — or new learning — impairment during a course of ECT, which fully reverses usually within one to four weeks after an acute course is stopped.
What happens if ECT doesnt work?
If nothing else has helped, including ECT, and you are still severely depressed, you may be offered
neurosurgery for mental disorder (NMD)
, deep brain stimulation (DBS) or vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
Can ECT help with sleep?
While the latency between sleep onset and the first episode of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is typically shortened in depressed patients, small studies in 11 and 25 patients showed that
ECT improved sleep parameters
, decreased durations of REM sleep, and increased REM sleep latency as assessed using polysomnography [ …
How does ECT feel?
Once your medical team is sure that you are
deeply asleep
and that your muscles are completely relaxed, they will administer the ECT treatment. Because you will be asleep, you will experience no pain during the treatment and will not feel the current or the seizure.
How long is maintenance ECT?
Maintenance ECT involves getting treatments every two weeks to every month, usually for a period of six months to a year. But patients have gone on maintenance ECT for
up to three years
, depending on their response.
How many ECT treatments is too many?
It is important to realize that a ‘course ‘ of ECT entails a series of treatments given 2-3 times per week until maximal improvement has occurred. Most patients require
6 to 12 total treatments
.
