ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy) for Depression Treatment? |

(Electroconvulsive therapy) ECT for depression treatment, ECT therapy or shock therapy has been very much improved in recent years compared to ect electroconvulsive therapy used decades ago, but it is still controversial.

When a person suffers from severe or life-threatening depression, ect for depression therapy can be effective in providing relief from the depressive symptoms.

In situations where the individual is unable to take antidepressant medications, when antidepressant medicines do not seem to work, for mania, severely depressed people or schizophrenia patients – ECT treatment for depression can often provide needed relief.

Women ECT therapy sessions of three times per week are typically required for expected results to be received.

This treatment seems to work well with patients that make suicide attempts, because they appear to stop the attempts after ECT therapy is performed.

Before the ECT procedure is done, the patient will receive a muscle relaxant before the treatment is given under a brief anesthesia.

Once the ect sensors or electrodes are placed on various locations on the head, electrical impulses are delivered which will cause a brief kind of seizure within the brain. The person receiving the ECT electrical stimulus will not be aware of receiving the impulses.

Based on research done with animals, ECT for depression treatment improves dopamine levels, it stimulates the areas in the brain that use norepinephrine, produces more GABA which is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter and reduces the reuptake of serotonin.

ECT for depression treatment and ect therapy is much improved in recent years compared to ect electroconvulsive therapy used decades ago. Patients, when using this procedure don’t remember or feel the treatment – ECT is performed with some short-acting anesthetic allowing the patient to be relaxed and asleep.

After the ECT procedure, the patient may experience some temporary memory loss, muscle stiffness, confusion and headaches – but these symptoms usually disapear within 20 to 60 minutes.

If you have high blood pressure or cardiovascular problems, you may have to discuss the issue with your doctor before you submit yourself to ECT for depression treatment.

ECT for depression treatment and ECT sensor work well with some people, allowing them to return to a productive life and without complications and medications side effects.

Some patients prefer the procedure to any antidepressant medication. However some people report lasting memory loss.

There are several types of ECT for depression treatment and ECT therapy that determine the placement of the electrodes:

• 1- Unilateral ECT for depression treatment means that the ECT sensor is placed on the right side of the head and the other ECT sensor in the middle of the forehead.

• 2- For bilateral ECT only one sensor is place on either side of the person’s temple.

ECT treatment works by altering chemicals within the brain temporarily, not permanently perhaps. For this reason, the procedure is considered a temporary remedy.

Most patients who have received ECT for major depression will likely suffer a relapse within a year. Going back for maintenance therapy on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis can provide the relief desired from depressive symptoms.

ECT treatment for depression, ECT for depression treatment and possible side effects

There are some medical professionals that oppose electric-shock therapy because ECT can cause cognitive problems, brain damage and amnesia. Some patients complain of lasting memory loss and confusion.

Short term memory remains a concern with patients who receive ECT treatment for depression treatment, but people that receive unilateral ECT seem to do better with memory and attention than those who receive bilateral ECT treatment.

Brief-pulse ECT is a new technique developed in the last few years and much smaller amounts of electricity are used in this procedure – this method seems to be very effective still and reduces substantially any memory loss after each treatment.