What is ECT
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective medical treatment for individuals dealing with severe depression, bipolar depression, psychosis, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. ECT is a well-established procedure that can provide significant relief to patients who have not responded to other forms of treatment (such as medication or psychotherapy). ECT can be used to treat people with acute illness and to maintain their improvement.
How ECT Works
ECT works by providing a medically monitored and controlled seizure under the supervision of an anesthesiologist, psychiatrist and experienced nursing staff. ECT is a carefully administered medical treatment that involves the application of a controlled electric current to the brain, leading to brief seizures. ECT seems to cause chemical changes in the brain, regulating the brain's neurotransmitters and improving communication between different regions. These changes can improve the symptoms of some mental illnesses.
ECT may help improve the patient's symptoms, but it is not a cure. Patients will still need ongoing treatment to prevent their symptoms from returning, which may include medication or psychotherapy, and possibly ongoing ECT treatments.
How Long is the Full ECT Treatment
ECT treatment typically consists of a series of sessions called a “course”, depending on the patient's individual needs and response to treatment. The frequency and duration of sessions will be determined by their UHN provider, but an acute course is typically 2 to 3 times a week for 6-12 sessions; the number of treatments may depend on the severity of the patient's symptoms and how quickly they improve. Some patients respond positively after the first 2 to 3 treatments, though full improvement usually takes longer. There may be recommendations for maintenance or booster treatments of ECT to help maintain the positive effects.
Risk of Side Effects
Potential physical side effects include headache, muscle pain, jaw pain and nausea. These side effects normally go away after a few hours and can be treated with medicine, if needed.
The patient may feel confused immediately after treatment. It is best for them to rest for the next 24 hours and have someone with them during this time. The confusion caused by anesthetic or ECT usually subsides within a short period. Rarely, it can last a couple of days or longer.
ECT can affect the patient's memory and may lead the patient to forget past events or cause difficulty learning new things. Some patients may not remember having the procedure done. ECT's effect on memory is typically short-lived and does not involve forgetting loved ones or major events that happened in the past. If memory problems develop, they may last a few weeks or months. We also suggest not making any large life decisions during the acute course of ECT. In rare cases, memory loss can be permanent. Improved ECT techniques and clear guidelines for the use of ECT have reduced the risk and severity of memory side effects.
How to access ECT
Currently, the ECT program is only accepting internal referrals within UHN. If interested, please speak to your UHN Psychiatrist.
