ECT is a treatment for severe depression, which is actually Electro Convulsive Therapy ECT is only used in cases of extreme depression. It is useful because it is highly effective and can work faster than medication. However, for obvious reasons, many people are resistant to this type of treatment.
It involves an anaesthetic which sends the person to sleep for a short time, usually only 5-10 minutes. While asleep, a muscle-relaxing drug is administered and then an electric current is passed through the brain. This current lasts for only a fraction of a second.
The recovery time from the anaesthetic is usually around half an hour. ECT is only administered as somewhat of a last resort and has to be closely monitored by an anaesthetist, a psychiatrist and nursing staff.
ECT is usually given twice a week and 6-10 treatments are usually required until the depression has been eradicated. Strangely doctors do not understand how it works. They just know that it does !
It involves an anaesthetic which sends the person to sleep for a short time, usually only 5-10 minutes. While asleep, a muscle-relaxing drug is administered and then an electric current is passed through the brain. This current lasts for only a fraction of a second.
The recovery time from the anaesthetic is usually around half an hour. ECT is only administered as somewhat of a last resort and has to be closely monitored by an anaesthetist, a psychiatrist and nursing staff.
ECT is usually given twice a week and 6-10 treatments are usually required until the depression has been eradicated. Strangely doctors do not understand how it works. They just know that it does !
