{"id":10158,"date":"2023-08-04T10:52:38","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T10:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/?page_id=10158"},"modified":"2025-02-21T01:25:19","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T01:25:19","slug":"electroconvulsive-therapy","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/treatment\/addiction-therapies\/electroconvulsive-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Electroconvulsive Therapy at The Recovery Village Palm Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Electroconvulsive therapy is a form of brain stimulation that is used to treat severe mental health disorders. It is effective in patients when other treatments have failed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)<\/a> is a procedure where electrical stimulation is given to a person\u2019s brain while they are under anesthesia. The stimulation causes the person to experience a brief seizure. ECT is a therapy used for severe cases of major depressive disorder<\/a>, bipolar disorder<\/a> and schizophrenia<\/a> when other therapies have been ineffective<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Electroconvulsive Therapy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Electroconvulsive therapy involves stimulating the brain with small electric shocks to induce a controlled seizure in a person who is under anesthesia. ECT is used to treat people with severe mental health disorders. Though the mechanism of how it works is largely unknown, it has been used to treat severe mental health disorders for nearly 80 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

History of ECT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The history of ECT treatment<\/a> dates back to the early 1900s, when scientists noticed a link between seizures and the relief of mental health symptoms. At first, a medication was used to cause a person to convulse, but the other side effects of the drug were unbearable. As a result, scientists started using electric current to induce seizures in patients instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 1940s and 1950s, ECT was first used in the United States to treat patients with severe mental health disorders. Electroconvulsive therapy was historically called \u201celectric shock therapy\u201d and was a rougher experience than the therapy of today. Originally, anesthesia was not given to the patient. This would cause the patient to experience a full-body seizure that would sometimes result in injuries such as broken bones or teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, the therapy has been improved. Anesthesia and a muscle relaxant are used to minimize the full-body seizure and concentrate it to the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Is ECT Administered?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ECT is administered by a team of medical professionals, including a psychiatrist, anesthesiologist and nurse. The procedure is relatively quick and is done multiple times a week. The total number of treatments will depend on the severity of the disorder and how quickly the patient starts to see improvement in their symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electroconvulsive Therapy Steps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prior to receiving ECT, a patient will undergo a mental health and physical exam to check that they are healthy enough to have the procedure. This includes examination by a psychiatrist and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to make sure their heart is healthy. Patients will go over the risks and benefits with their physician and give consent prior to the procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the day of the procedure<\/a>, that person will be given a muscle relaxant and general anesthesia to put them to sleep. Electrodes are then attached to their skull in precise locations, and electrical stimulation is given to the brain in short pulses. This will cause the brain to seize for about one minute. Afterward, the patient will be brought out of the anesthesia. It will take five to 10 minutes for them to wake up and up to an hour to feel fully alert again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This procedure is typically done two to three times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments. This will continue until the person starts to feel relief from the severity of their symptoms. If ECT is used for maintenance treatment, it will also be administered once a week or once every few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electroconvulsive Therapy Side Effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Electroconvulsive therapy does have some side effects. A person may experience side effects caused by the general anesthesia and brain stimulation. ECT side effects<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n