Full text get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 950k, or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Sackeim electroconvulsive therapy ect plays a significant role in the treatment of latelife depression and other psychiatric conditions in the elderly. This can in part be attributed to our lack of knowledge of the mechanisms of. Overview of electroconvulsive therapy ect for adults. Apr 18, 2018 is electroconvulsive therapy a miracle cure for depression. Can electroconvulsive therapy help treat depression in. This study reports the outcome of a 1year followup study of 37 patients with a delusional depression treated with electroconvulsive therapy ect. Yet research indicates that nearly 80 years after its discovery, ect remains the single most effective therapy for treatmentresistant cases of depression and some cases of bipolar affective. A significantly greater percent of patients receiving ect had. Documented facts about electroshock electroconvulsive therapy, ect from its inception in 1938 to a complete timeline of fdas initial involvement with the ect device and the american psychiatric associations 2016 push to increase its use. Dec 31, 2014 electroconvulsive therapy ect remains the most effective treatment for severe depression and trd.
For serious depression that does not respond to traditional medications, there are other therapies that may help. Mar 22, 2020 ect, or electroconvulsive therapy, is an alternative therapy for certain psychiatric illnesses that are not responding to traditional treatments. Electroconvulsive therapy canadian psychiatric association. This video provides an introduction to ect for patients, family members and clinicians that may. Electroconvulsive therapy treating depression with expertise and compassion. Electroconvulsive therapy and its different indications.
The clinical science of electroconvulsive therapy download. How ect electroconvulsive therapy helped me to heal from. She has had four episodes of major depression consisting of cr. Webmd explains electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus. Mar 01, 2016 in this video, author and depression counselor douglas bloch talks about his experience with electroconvulsive therapy in a hospital environment. Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on depression and. Ect has received much attention in the mainstream media. Electroconvulsive therapy ect is a treatment for people with severe or recurrent depression. The improvement was greatest in elderly patients, who. Although feelings of sadness, lethargy and social isolation are some of the symptoms most associated with. For some people, medications are an effective treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy is one of the most controversial treatments in medicine. Electroconvulsive therapy is not a required subject in us medical schools and not a required skill in psychiatric residency training.
Learn more about this therapy, including potential side effects, and what its like to experience ect. Is electroconvulsive therapy a miracle cure for depression. Electroconvulsive therapy in children and adolescents. Ect was introduced in 1938 and has since undergone dramatic changes so that modern ect no longer resembles the early treatment often portrayed in the media. Other firstline indications for the procedure include people who are catatonic or suffering from a form of depression known as psychotic depression depression associated with delusions and hallucinations. As uncertainty remains about whether clinical response influences cognitive function after electroconvulsive therapy ect for depression, we examined the effect of remission. It involves passing a carefully controlled electric current through the brain, which affects the brains activity and aims to relieve severe depressive and psychotic symptoms. Cognitive function after electroconvulsive therapy for. Electroconvulsive therapy pdf pdf file the page you are accessing is a downloadable pdf file. Or it might be used when patients pose a severe threat to themselves or others and it is too dangerous to wait until medications take effect. Pdf electroconvulsive therapy and its use in modernday psychiatry. Electroconvulsive therapy in latelife depression harold a.
Electroconvulsive therapy ect is one of the most studied and most effective treatments for. Although ect has been used since the 1940s and 1950s. Electroconvulsive therapy lifts depression, sustains remission in older adults. Depression, memory and electroconvulsive therapy bjpsych.
Brief overview and ethical issues 2 the use of electroconvulsive therapy ect in the file. Although electroconvulsive therapy ect is, along with antidepressants and psychotherapy, one of the three major treatments of depression. Electroconvulsive therapy ect is a physical treatment used for a range of mental illnesses. Can electroconvulsive therapy help treat depression in older adults. Compared to pharmacologic treatments, ect is administered to an especially high proportion of elderly patients. The improvement was greatest in elderly patients, who more often had psychotic features. Genuine ect is substantially more effective in the acute treatment of depression than sham ect. Most people diagnosed with depression will respond to standard treatments. Real ect was significantly more effective than simulated ect six trials, 256 patients, standardised effect size ses 091, 95% ci 127 to 054. Electroconvulsive therapy ect, which has been in use for 75 years, is an important treatment for severe and treatment resistant depression. For some patients in a treatment resistant depressive episode, electroconvulsive treatment ect is the only treatment that is effective. Electroconvulsive therapy lifts depression, sustains. Severe depression, particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality psychosis, a desire to commit suicide or refusal to eat. Privileging for ect practice at institutions is a local option.
The ect procedure was first conducted in 1938 and is the only currently used form of shock therapy in psychiatry. Delusional depression and electroconvulsive therapy. Thirtytwo 86% of the patients initially responded to ect. Before you consent to the treatment you should read it and talk with the staff doctors and nurses about any concerns you have regarding ect. A brief history of electroconvulsive therapy psychology. Electroconvulsive therapy ect committee under the auspices of the office of the chief psychiatrist.
Electroconvulsive therapy an overview sciencedirect topics. Ect has been used in various psychiatric conditions in the elderly. Jul 21, 2017 when symptoms of depression become severe and other treatment options have not been successful, your behavioral health specialist might suggest a treatment approach called electroconvulsive therapy ect. Electroconvulsive therapy ect is one of the most studied and most effective treatments for selected severe mental illness such as major depression with psychotic feature. Nimh electroconvulsive therapy lifts depression, sustains. Electroconvulsive therapy today indepth report people who have had ect before and responded well are good candidates for ect.
Download fulltext pdf electroconvulsive therapy for depression article pdf available in new england journal of medicine 3586. Major depression can be a serious and debilitating condition. The overarching aims of the thesis were to identify clinical characteristics thatpredict the outcomes depressed patients treated in of clinical practice by ect, and to elucidate the effectiveness of. Electroconvulsive therapy, or ect, is often used effectively for depression that is hard to treat. Sackeim electroconvulsive therapy ect plays a significant role in the treatment of latelife depression and other psychiatric conditions in the. The use of electroconvulsive therapy for depression in the elderly. Electroconvulsive therapy ect is a procedure used to treat certain psychiatric conditions. Before commencing a course of ect, patients will undergo a thorough psychiatric. In the united states in the 1940s and 1950s, the treatment was often administered to the most severely disturbed patients residing in large mental.
An individualized program of followup treatment with electroconvulsive therapy ect combined with an antidepressant was effective in preventing relapse in patients 60 years and older who had had a successful initial course of treatment for severe depression. Electroconvulsive therapy electroconvulsive therapy ect is a treatment for severe mental illness in which a brief application of electric stimulus is used to produce a generalized seizure. Electroconvulsive therapy response in major depressive. Electroconvulsive therapy depression is different from. Jun 21, 2003 electroconvulsive therapy is one of the most controversial treatments in medicine. Electroconvulsive therapy ect electroconvulsive therapy. She has had four episodes of major depression consisting. There are well documented treatments for depression, mainly pharmaceuticals and psychotherapy. Learn more about this therapy, including potential. Clinical experience and evidencebased research have provided support for the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy ect for unipolar depressive episodes, but the relative efficacy of ect in. Electroconvulsive therapy is equally effective in unipolar and bipolar depression and has profound antimanic properties.
The use of electroconvulsive therapy for depression in the. Clinical experience and evidencebased research have provided support for the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy ect for unipolar depressive episodes, but the relative efficacy of ect in treatmentresistant bipolar depression remains understudied. Use of electroconvulsive therapy in bipolar depression. Jan 07, 1984 further analysis showed that electroconvulsive therapy was effective in depression associated with delusions and in depression associated with retardation. Previous position papers were published in 1980 1 and 1992. Click download or read online button to get the clinical science of electroconvulsive therapy book now. You may retrieve this document by clicking the following link. Answer when medication and psychotherapy dont seem to make a difference in your symptoms, your doctor may. What are the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for. Ect is used mainly to treat severe depression, but is also indicated for. This video provides an introduction to ect for patients, family members and. Depression, memory and electroconvulsive therapy volume 43 issue 2 rudi coetzer skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Ect, or electroconvulsive therapy, is an alternative therapy for certain psychiatric illnesses that are not responding to traditional treatments. Electroconvulsive therapy ect ministry of health nz.
Electroconvulsive therapy had a considerable effect on healthrelated quality of life in patients with depression of both sexes and all age groups. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook. The use of electroconvulsive therapy for depression in the elderly until the 1930s, little could be done to help those suffering from major mental disorders mmds apart from custodial care and sedation. Electroconvulsive therapy ect applies a small electric current to the brain in order to create a generalized seizure for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, mainly depression. Electroconvulsive therapy ect is a treatment for certain mental illnesses. Ect is generally used when severe depression is unresponsive to other forms of therapy. Electroconvulsive therapy ect can provide rapid, significant improvements in severe symptoms of several mental health conditions. Until the 1930s, little could be done to help those suffering from major mental disorders mmds apart from custodial care and sedation. Electroconvulsive therapy ect fact sheet nami the national alliance on mental illness 1 800 950nami. Electroconvulsive therapy ect, formerly known as electroshock therapy, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in patients to provide relief from mental disorders typically, 70.
It involves passing a carefully controlled electric current through the brain, which affects the brains activity and. Efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy in depressive. Electroconvulsive therapy, although still controversial, can be an extremely effective treatment for elderly patients with depression who are not able to tolerate the side. However, 16 50% of the 32 responders relapsed within 1 year.
Major depressive disorder mdd is associated with increased functional connectivity in specific neural networks. Electroconvulsive therapy ect formerly known as electroshock therapy and often referred to as shock treatment, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in patients to provide relief from psychiatric illnesses. In 1934, meduna first noted a reduction of psychotic symptoms with chemicallyinduced seizures and, a few years later, cerletti and bini intro. As uncertainty remains about whether clinical response influences cognitive function after electroconvulsive therapy ect for depression, we examined the effect of remission status on cognitive function in depressed patients 4 months after a course of ect. The overarching aims of the thesis were to identify clinical characteristics that predict the outcomes of depressed patients treated in.
Pdf pelectroconvulsive therapy ect has been regarded as a some what controversial treatment modality. Written by stephanie booth on april 18, 2018 the controversial treatment is often considered a last resort when antidepressants fail. Collaboration across primary and speciality care including. Electroconvulsive therapy ect is an effective treatment for clinical depression or major depression, as well as in some forms of recurrent or chronic clinical depression with one big caveat nearly everyone who receives this treatment has some sort of memory loss. Bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder mdd are mental disorders with a 12month prevalence in the eu of about 1 and 7%. In the united states in the 1940s and 1950s, the treatment was often administered to the most severely disturbed patients residing in large mental institutions. Electroconvulsive therapy ect remains the most effective treatment for severe depression and trd. These treatments include antidepressant medication and psychological therapies. Yet, major depression is one of the most common and serious illnesses in the elderly see chapter. Ect was introduced in 1938 and has since undergone dramatic changes so that modern ect no longer. Electroconvulsive therapy ect uses a small electric current to produce a generalized cerebral seizure under general anesthesia. An 82yearold woman with severe depression, including psychotic symptoms, is referred for consideration of electroconvulsive therapy. How electroconvulsive therapy works to treat major depression.
I f major depression were not a serious public health problem in the elderly population, there would be no need to discuss electroconvulsive therapy ect in this book. The overarching aims of the thesis were to identify clinical characteristics thatpredict the outcomes depressed patients treated in of clinical practice by ect, and to elucidate the effectiveness of continuation. During this therapy, electrical currents are sent through the brain to induce a seizure. Webmd explains how it works and its side effects and risks. An individualized program of followup treatment with electroconvulsive therapy ect. Although ect has shown efficacy in randomized controlled trials, the treatment is still controversial and stigmatized. Electroconvulsive therapy ect is one of the treatment modalities in psychiatry that has stood the test of time for years. It is a treatment in which a grandmal seizure is artificially induced in an anaesthetized patient by passing on electrical current through electrodes applied to the patients head.