What is Electroconvulsive

Therapy?
Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, involves
sending electric currents through the brain
causing disruption of nerve impulses to induce
a brief seizure. These seizures produce
changes in the brains chemicals that are
responsible for mood regulation and emotions.

Five Must-Know Facts About ECT:

1. ECT is given in a series, often with 2
to 3 treatments weekly for 6 to 12
weeks.

2. ECT treatment lasts only 5-10

Is Electroconvulsive Therapy
Right for You?

minutes, and you will be asleep

during the procedure.

3. The most common side effect is

memory loss, usually only of the
time surrounding the procedure
(retrograde amnesia). Some

You may be a good candidate for

ECT if...

experience memory losses of the

You have a diagnosis of Major Depression,

Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other mood
disorders with psychosis, and medications and
counseling have not been successful.

memory loss beyond this time is

You have had severe suicidal thoughts or

have made repetitive suicidal attempts.
ECT is also used to treat severe mania,
catatonia, agitation, and aggressive behavior
in patients diagnosed with Dementia.

weeks before and/or after ECT, but

rare.

4. Evidence shows at least 80% of

patients see improvement in their
symptoms after treatment with ECT.

5. ECT is safe. Serious injury and death

are less common with ECT than with
childbirth.

What are Some of the Symptoms that

ECT can Resolve?
Insomnia, loss of appetite, lack of interest,
feelings of hopelessness or helplessness,
suicidal thoughts, and decreased self-esteem

Information to Guide Your

Decision

Jill Carr, Gillian Church,

Kristen Gleason, Rashelle Glover
Student Nurses
Cayuga Community College

How to Prepare for ECT

What to Expect During ECT

Possible Side Effects

There are many steps involved with

preparing for your first treatment with ECT.

The ECT procedure takes about five to ten

minutes. During this time, you will be under
sedation to help with any fears and anxiety.

Confusion: usually subsides within hours but

may last several days.

You will need a complete evaluation,

including:
-Your medical history
-A complete physical examination, most
thoroughly of the heart, lungs, and muscles
-A psychiatric assessment (including your
past use and response to ECT)
-Basic blood and urine tests
-An electrocardiogram, which is a visual
graph of your heart's electrical activity

General anesthesia is used so you will be

unconscious during the procedure. To
prepare, your doctor will ask that you stop
eating and drinking, usually after midnight
the night before treatment.

Physical symptoms: may include

headache, muscle soreness, nausea, and
vomiting. These symptoms can be treated
with medications such as pain killers and
anti-nausea drugs.

This will help to rule out any reasons why it

would be unsafe for you to receive ECT.

Informed Consent
You will also be responsible for signing an
informed consent form prior to ECT.
An informed consent form describes
-The purpose of the treatment
-Expected benefits
-The procedure itself
-Potential major adverse reactions
-Available alternative treatments
When you sign the informed consent form,
you also give your permission to receive
medical treatment in the case of an
emergency. Informed consent begins once
you sign the form and it continues until the
end of your treatment.

Memory loss: the most common side effect.

Most patients experiencing memory loss
have retrograde amnesia, which is difficulty
remembering the period of time
surrounding the procedure. Some have
memory loss that occurs during the weeks
before and after the procedure but it is rare
to have memory loss extending beyond this
time.

Other symptoms that you might notice

include having difficulty reading and
concentrating as well as lethargy. These
effects usually improve within a few months.

The Procedure Itself

-Brief physical exam prior
-Nurse inserts IV to give medications
-Medications: anesthesia, sedation, muscle
relaxants to protect from injury during
seizure, and anticholinergic to protect heart
-Electrodes placed on head
-Mouthpiece and breathing tube inserted
-ECT psychiatrist, anesthesiologist, and
nurse present to ensure safety
-Seizure induced with a small amount of
electrical current on one or both sides of
brain
-Seizure's beginning and end monitored by
watching brain activity on a screen (EEG)
After the procedure is over, you will be
brought to a recovery area. There, a
recovery nurse will monitor you for side
effects as you wake up.

After one treatment is completed, it may be

recommended by your doctor that you do
not return to work for at least 24 hours. Once
the whole series of treatment is complete,
your doctor may also recommend that you
do not return to work for at least one to two
weeks. These are just safety precautions
due to the possible side effects of the
treatment.