Electro convulsive therapy (ECT)
Mary (left) and Michelle (right) share their perspectives as a family member and a patient in our video about ECT.
What is ECT?
Electro convulsive therapy (known as ECT) is a treatment to help the brain regulate mood. The patient is given a general anesthesia to sleep during the treatment. The psychiatrist gives a brief electrical stimulation to the brain.
ECT has been shown to help more than 70 percent of patients who use it as part of their therapy.
ECT may be right for you if medicine or psychotherapy do not work, if they are too slow to relieve your symptoms, or if you previously had successful response to ECT treatments.
Treatments may be given if you are staying in the hospital (inpatient) or coming from home (outpatient).
Number of treatments needed
The number of treatments vary for each patient. In general, a patient may receive two to three treatments a week for a total of three to 12 treatments.
If you need more treatments after the initial cycle, you and your psychiatrist will talk about a schedule.
Who can receive ECT
ECT is an effective treatment for patients who have:
What to do before starting ECT treatment
- You will need to get a physical within days of your scheduled treatment. Your doctor will decide when and which lab work and tests you will need.
- Tell your doctor all of your medical conditions.
- Tell your doctor the medicines you take. Include all prescription, over-the-counter, herbal and natural medicines.
- If you are having the ECT treatment as an outpatient:
- you will need to arrange to have an adult drive you home (You will not be able to drive.)
- you will need to have a responsible adult stay with you for up to 24 hours after the treatment.
How to prepare for your ECT treatment
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before each treatment.
- You may need to take your regular medicines with a small sip water before your treatment. Follow your doctor's directions.
- Try to avoid using make-up.
- You will be asked to use the bathroom before your treatment.
During an ECT treatment
A psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist and a registered nurse will be in the room with you during each treatment.
- If you are coming to the hospital for treatment, you may be asked to wear a hospital gown.
Appropriate consent will be given.
- You will lie down.
- The nurse will:
- start an intravenous (IV) line in your hand or arm for the anesthesia and muscle relaxer
- put a blood pressure cuff on your arm to monitor your blood pressure
- attach a pulse oximeter on your finger to monitor your oxygen levels.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor patches will be placed on your chest to monitor your heart rate.
- The psychiatrist places the ECT leads to your scalp.
- The anesthesiologist will give you a general anesthesia and a muscle relaxer through the IV. (You may have an oxygen mask around your mouth and nose.)
- After you are asleep, the psychiatrist will give you a brief electrical stimulation through the leads on your scalp. This will cause a seizure in your brain.
- Your body remains still due to the effects of the muscle relaxer.
- The nurse will monitor you in the recovery area until you wake up.
- The ECT leads, IV, blood pressure cuff, oximeter clip, oxygen mask and EKG patches will be removed before you either return to your hospital room (inpatient) or leave for home (outpatient).
After ECT treatment
- If you are an inpatient (staying in the hospital), you will return to your room.
- If you are an outpatient (returning home), you will need to have someone drive you home. Have a responsible adult stay with you after you return home. (Follow your health care provider's instructions.)
- Follow all directions you receive from your psychiatrist or nurse.
Common side effects after ECT treatment
Some common side effects after an ECT treatment include:
- headaches
- jaw tightness
- muscle soreness
- nausea
- problems with distraction and concentration
- short-term memory loss.
Other less common side effects include:
- small risk of injury to the soft tissue in the mouth or to the teeth (such as a nick on the tongue or a chipped tooth)
- severe memory loss (rare). If this happens, the psychiatrist will talk with you about stopping treatment.
If you have any side effects (even those not listed above), please tell your psychiatrist or nurse. Most side effects can be avoided or improved.
 ECT: Electro convulsive therapy
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