Electroshock Therapy Depression Treatment Information

According to the Mayo Clinic, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure to help people with mental illnesses, including severe depression. ECT is often used to treat patients who are not able to tolerate medications or when other therapies have failed to relieve the symptoms of depression.

Function

• FamilyDoctor.org reports that ECT is performed by electrically shocking the brain and causing a seizure. The seizure causes the brain to release chemicals called neurotransmitters that help improve brain function. This increased function is believed to improve the patient's mood and help relieve depression.

Procedure

• An anesthetic is administered to help relax the muscles and put the patient to sleep before ECT treatment. An electrical shock lasting one to two seconds will then be applied to the patient's head, causing a seizure. The patient will wake up five to ten minutes after the procedure has been performed and be monitored in a recovery room.

Time Frame

• ECT treatments are given three to four times per week, says FamilyDoctor.org. Usually no more than 12 treatments are needed to relieve the symptoms of depression.

Side Effects

• Common side effects of ECT treatments include memory loss, nausea, confusion, muscle aches and headache, reports FamilyDoctor.org.

Famous Ties

• ElectroBoy.com reports that some celebrities have undergone ECT procedures, includingTammy Wynette, Dick Cavett, Vivient Leigh, Ken Kesey and Ernest Hemingway.