What are the side effects of electric shock therapy?

The most common side effects of ECT on the day of treatment include nausea, headache, fatigue, confusion, and slight memory loss, which may last minutes to hours. These risks must be balanced with the consequences of ineffectively treated severe psychiatric disorders.

Is electric shock therapy still used 2020?

ECT is much safer today. Although ECT may still cause some side effects, it now uses electric currents given in a controlled setting to achieve the most benefit with the fewest possible risks.

Is ECT treatment painful?

Freeman and R. E. Kendell of the University of Edinburgh found that 68 percent reported that the experience was no more upsetting than a visit to the dentist. For the others, ECT was more unpleasant than dentistry, but it was not painful. Still, the treatment is not hazard-free.

How long does ECT treatment last?

A single ECT session usually lasts one hour. This includes the time the patient will be in the treatment room (approximately 15-20 minutes) and the time spent in the recovery room (approximately 20-30 minutes).

Does electroconvulsive therapy 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.

What to expect after ECT treatment?

After the Procedure When you awaken, you may experience a period of disorientation lasting from a few minutes to several hours. Headaches, jaw pain, and muscle soreness may occur. ECT requires a series of treatments, often initiated two to three times a week for a few weeks and then the frequency is tapered down.

How soon after ECT Do you feel better?

We know that depressed patients often begin to respond after the first treatment and progress to wellness with 6 to 12 treatments. There is considerable variability in the trajectories, but most commonly there is progressive symptomatic improvement within the first week and complete remission within 3 to 4 weeks.

What happens if ECT doesn’t 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).

What to do when someone gets an electric shock?

The person has been injured by an electrical shock. Electrical shocks always need emergency medical attention — even if the person seems to be fine afterward. The 911 emergency personnel may instruct you on the following: 1. Separate the Person From Current’s Source

What should I do if I have a nervous breakdown?

The right treatment for a nervous breakdown depends mainly upon its cause and the individual. Some common treatments include: Mental fatigue is a common feature of a mental breakdown. For some, getting rest and de-stressing can be an effective home remedy.

When was shock therapy introduced to treat depression?

Shock therapy, known technically as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the most powerful treatment psychiatry has on offer, was introduced in 1938 and in the 1950s was seen as a safe and effective treatment of depression.

Are there any treatments for melancholic depression or nervous breakdown?

The treatments for melancholic depression – the nervous breakdown — are completely different. And here again, a group of effective agents have been getting short shrift. In the 1950s, several beneficial drug categories for serious depression were introduced.

What are the side effects of electric shock therapy? The most common side effects of ECT on the day of treatment include nausea, headache, fatigue, confusion, and slight memory loss, which may last minutes to hours. These risks must be balanced with the consequences of ineffectively treated severe psychiatric disorders. Is electric shock therapy still…