What is Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT?
Electroconvulsive Therapy is one among the many of intervention fordepressionand is considered to be an effective and safe method for treat severe depression and depression which is resistant to medication . Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT is exceedingly beneficial for patients suffering from mania and other mental illnesses and is also one of the fast methods to relieve symptom in suicidal patient role or hard downcast patients .
In Electroconvulsive Therapy , exquisitely controlled electric stream is applied through the electrodes that are order on the affected role ’s scalp . The patient is kept under general anesthesia during Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT . The electric flow which go along through the node farm a abbreviated ictus in the brainiac .
As mentioned before , Electroconvulsive Therapy is normally used when the patient has severe depression and does not answer to other forms of therapy . Electroconvulsive Therapy is also used when patient becomes a austere threat to others or themselves or when it is considered grave to hold back till the medication take their upshot .
How Long Has Electroconvulsive Therapy Been in Use & Why is ECT such a Controversial Treatment?
Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT has been in use for cover mental illness since the 1940s and 1950s ; however , it is also one of the most misunderstood treatments by the general populace . Most of the risk and side result that are consider to occur from Electroconvulsive Therapy in reality come from incorrect administration of ECT , abuse of equipment or improperly trained faculty .
There is also a misconception ion that Electroconvulsive Therapy can be used as a “ quick localisation ” instead of long - terminus therapy or hospitalization for genial illness . It is also wrong assumed that Electroconvulsive Therapy distressingly “ blow ” the affected role out of thedepression . The tilt around this Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT is also fuel by unfavorable medium coverage and news reports regarding this discussion .
How is Electroconvulsive Therapy Performed?
Before the starting time of Electroconvulsive Therapy , a muscularity relaxant is given to the patient after which the affected role is put to sleep with general anaesthesia . A exquisitely controlled electric flow is enforce through the electrode which are order on the affected role ’s scalp . This current produces a abbreviated ictus in the patient ’s brain . As the patient is cave in a muscle relaxant , the effects of the seizure often will be restrict to slight drift of hands and feet . The affected role is carefully monitored during Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT . After a few bit of the discourse , the patient wakes up and does not have any recollection of the treatment or the effect fence it and is usually confused . This confusion after Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT usually go for only a short period of meter .
What is the Frequency of Electroconvulsive Therapy?
Electroconvulsive Therapy is commonly give about three fourth dimension a week for a total of two weeks to a month .
When & Why Should Electroconvulsive Therapy be Done?
Electroconvulsive Therapy is done and is beneficial in the following site :
How Does Electroconvulsive Therapy Help in Treating Depression & Other Mental Illnesses?
No one cognise the exact mechanism of how Electroconvulsive Therapy or electroconvulsive therapy helps in treating clinical depression and other genial illness including austere depression . However , Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT is known to cause changes in the various chemic aspects of brain part during as well as after the seizure activity in the brain . These chemical changes in the brain can build upon one another which somehow leads to decrease in the symptom of severe depression and other genial trouble . This is the reason Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT is effective in patients who have received a complete of multiple treatments .
What are the Risks of Electroconvulsive Therapy?
Electroconvulsive Therapy is generally considered to be a safe procedure but it does have some risks and side result which are :
disarray : The patient wakes up confused immediately after ECT . This confusion endure from a few minutes to some hours . The patient does not remember anything about the discourse or where and why the patient is there . In rare cases , the confusion from Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT can last for several day or even more . sometime grownup generally sense more confusion than young adults .
Memory Loss : There are some patients who stand from memory board loss and are not able to remember events which pass off right before Electroconvulsive Therapy and sometimes events which hap weeks or months before ECT . Rarely the affected role may also not be able to remember events from previous years . This is make love as retrograde amnesia . Most of the time , these store problems will improve in a month or two after the Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT treatment finish .
Physical Side Effects : When the Electroconvulsive Therapy is given , some patient can experienceheadache , nausea , muscle ache or jaw nuisance . medication will serve relieve these physical side effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT .
Medical Complications : There are risks of aesculapian complications with any type of aesculapian procedure , particularly those which involve anesthesia . During Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT , there is an growth in the blood pressure and the tenderness pace of the patient . Rarely , this can lead to serious heart problems . patient role having heart problems will be at risk for more problems after undergo ECT .
What is the Preparation done Before Electroconvulsive Therapy?
Before undergo Electroconvulsive Therapy , a full evaluation is conducted on the patient , which includes : patient ’s aesculapian history , strong-arm examination , basic blood test , psychiatrical appraisal , electrocardiogram ( ECG ) and a audience with Anesthesiologist to explicate the risks of anesthesia to the patient . All these tests are done to ensure that Electroconvulsive Therapy is safe for the patient role .
What is the Duration of Electroconvulsive Therapy?
The duration of an Electroconvulsive Therapy or electroconvulsive therapy procedure is about five to 10 moment excluding the clock time make for provision and recovery . Electroconvulsive Therapy can be done as an outpatient function or when the affected role is hospitalise .
What Happens Before & During Electroconvulsive Therapy Treatment?
What Types of Medications are Given During Electroconvulsive Therapy?
At the showtime of the Electroconvulsive Therapy or electroshock procedure , the patient is given the play along medicine through his / her IV :
What is the Equipment used during Electroconvulsive Therapy Procedure?
How is the Seizure Induced during Electroconvulsive Therapy?
When the patient is asleep as a effect of anesthetic and the muscles are unbend , then the doctor compact a push button present on the Electroconvulsive Therapy machine . bid this release free a minor amount of electric stream to pass via the electrodes placed on the patient ’s scalp to the brain , producing a seizure which typically live on less than a minute . Because of the issue of the heftiness relaxant and general anesthesia , patient remain relaxed and is not aware of the capture . The only indication of the seizure in the patient will be a rhythmical movement of the affected role ’s base if there ’s a blood pressure manacle around the patient ’s ankle . Whereas , inside the brain , the activity increases dramatically and electroencephalogram ( EEG ) records all the electric activity that die on in the affected role ’s brain . Abrupt , increase activeness on the EEG is an reading of source of seizure , which is then followed by plateauing off which indicates that the raptus is over .
What Happens after the Electroconvulsive Therapy Procedure?
After some minutes , the effect of the heftiness relaxant and anaesthetic article of clothing off . Patient is then taken to recovery arena where he / she is supervise for any problem . After the patient wake up , he / she tends to experience some disarray which can last for some minutes to a few hours or even more .
How often is Electroconvulsive Therapy Needed?
In USA , Electroconvulsive Therapy treatment are commonly chip in two to three time in a calendar week and for three weeks to a month which makes a total of six to 12 treatments . A newer proficiency is used by some doctors which is known as veracious unilateral ultra - abbreviated pulse electroconvulsive therapy which is done day by day on weekdays . The eccentric and the identification number of treatments which the patient needs depend on the severeness of the patient ’s illness and symptoms and the charge per unit at which the improvement is seen in the affected role .
How soon can the Patient return to Normal Activities after Electroconvulsive Therapy?
Some patient are advised not to drive or retort to work about a week or two after the last complete series of Electroconvulsive Therapy or for at least 24 hour after the last Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT .
What are the Results of Electroconvulsive Therapy?
Most of the patients take up to note an betterment in their low symptoms after about five to six handling of electroconvulsive therapy . double-dyed improvement may take more time . There is also a opportunity that Electroconvulsive Therapy may not work for some patients . When compared to ECT , response to antidepressant medications can take much longer time .
Does Patient Still Need Electroconvulsive Therapy Even After Improvement is Seen?
Even after improvement in the symptom of depression patient still needs ongoing depression discussion for forbid relapse or recurrence . This ongoing depression treatment may consist of Electroconvulsive Therapy which is more often , but with less absolute frequency . Ongoing low handling can also include antidepressants andpsychotherapy .
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