For patients who suffer from intractable catatonia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, ECT can be life saving. For elderly patients who
cannot tolerate or respond poorly to medications
and who are at a high risk for drug-induced toxicity or toxic drug interactions, ECT is the safest treatment option.
Is ECT good for elderly?
ECT is an important treatment option for depressed geriatric patients with severe and/or treatment-resistant illness. New data add to the evidence demonstrating that ECT is a
highly effective, safe, and well-tolerated antidepressant treatment option
for geriatric patients.
What is electroconvulsive therapy ECT and why would someone have this?
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
.
Why was ECT originally developed to treat patients?
ECT became popular in the US in the 1940s. At the time, psychiatric hospitals were overrun with patients whom doctors were desperate to treat and cure. Whereas lobotomies would reduce a patient to a more manageable submissive state, ECT
helped to improve mood in those with severe depression
.
What are 2 indications for use of ECT?
ECT is used mainly to treat
severe depression
, but is also indicated for patients with other conditions, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, catatonia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Is ECT contraindicated in elderly?
Age in itself is not a contraindication alone when concurrent medical risks
are accounted for. The safe and successful practice of ECT in old-old populations requires that a careful and thorough pre-ECT evaluation be completed to identify potential conditions that may increase risk.
What is the success rate of 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.
Can ECT make you worse?
Some people have very bad experiences of ECT, for example because they
feel worse after treatment
or are given it without consent. You might not want to risk the possibility of getting side effects.
When should ECT not be used?
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.
What are the long term side effects of ECT?
But some people experience more long-lasting or
permanent memory loss
, including losing personal memories or forgetting information they need to continue in their career or make sense of their personal relationships. Some people also find they have difficulty remembering new information from after they've had ECT.
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
.
Why is ECT bad?
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.
Can ECT cause brain damage?
These conditions are not approached during ECT. Other findings indicate that the passage of electricity, thermal effects, and the transient disruption of the blood-brain barrier during ECS do not result in structural brain damage. Conclusions:
There is no credible evidence that ECT causes structural brain damage
.
Is ECT still used in 2020?
Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is, along with antidepressants and psychotherapy, one of the three major treatments of depression,
it is still considered as the last resort for depressed patients
. This situation is partially due to limited studies and uncertainty regarding its mechanism.
What is considered as the gold standard for confirmation of seizure in ECT?
EEG-tracing during ECT
is the golden standard for modern ECT with the use of muscle relaxants. EEG can be used to monitor the physiologic response of brain from the electrical stimulant and to show whether the seizure is adequate.
Does 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.
