Trying ECT Therapy
Curious If ECT Might Be Right For You?
Beyond Psychotherapy
When it comes to mental health treatment, much of the discussion is often centered around psychotherapy and medication. While these treatment methods prove effective for many people, others may find that these don’t seem to impact their symptoms.
Available Treatments
For that reason, it’s important to become aware of other available treatment options, such as brain stimulation therapy. This article will focus specifically on Electroconvulsive Therapy ECT, its effectiveness, the risks and benefits, and seeking support if you think you may be a good candidate for ECT treatment.
What is Electroconvulsive Therapy?
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a brain stimulation therapy used to treat major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, particularly when other treatment methods have not been effective. ECT is a procedure that involves administering electrical pulses to the brain while an individual is under general anesthesia.
How Does It Work?
ECT produces a brief seizure, which creates changes in the brain that can significantly alleviate symptoms associated with severe mental illness.
Theories
No one is entirely sure how ECT works to improve symptoms in individuals with severe mental illness. Several theories are that the electrical currents in ECT might trigger new brain cells to develop, shift the activity of current brain cells at the synapses, and increase neurotransmitters such as dopamine or serotonin.
Required Sessions
Individuals typically undergo between 6-12 sessions of ECT depending on how their symptoms are responding to the treatment. ECT has been proven to be an effective treatment method for individuals with severe mental illness.
Is It Effective?
According to extensive research, ECT significantly reduces symptoms of depression for 80% of individuals. ECT may also be considered a treatment option for people with Bipolar Disorder who are not responding to other types of treatment.
Risks and Benefits
While ECT may be a beneficial treatment option for some people, it also comes with several significant risks.
Side Effects
Following an ECT procedure, an individual might experience side effects from general anesthesia, including nausea, headache, and confusion.
Short-Term Memory Loss
There is also a link between ECT and short-term memory loss in some individuals who display difficulty remembering events from the weeks or months leading up to the ECT treatment. Most people find that their memory problems subside after a few months, while others may experience more long-term challenges with ECT.
Risks
It is important to weigh these potential risks with the benefits of the ECT treatment. Individuals who don’t experience symptom relief from medications or are unable to tolerate medication might consider ECT.
Some common questions about this topic include:
What is the ECT used for?
Is ECT therapy painful?
What are some of the negative side effects of ECT?
What is the most common side effect of ECT?
What ECT does to the brain?
Does ECT damage the brain?
Is ECT worth the risk?
Does ECT lower IQ?
Does ECT erase memories?
What is the success rate of ECT?
Alternative Treatments
Additionally, this type of ECT treatment can improve symptoms more quickly than medications, which may take several weeks to work. This delay can be particularly harmful to individuals who are experiencing psychosis or suicidal ideation, thus ECT can be a better option.
If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Considering ECT Therapy
If you are interested in exploring ECT as a potential treatment option, talk to your doctor or mental health professional. They can help you to determine whether you might be a good candidate for this ECT treatment.
Brain Stimulation As A Last Resort
Typically, ECT is considered after an individual has not seen an improvement in their symptoms from medication or therapy. Therefore, these methods may be recommended first before considering ECT. Even after trying other treatment methods, if you continue to experience severe depression and psychosis, ECT may be a good fit for helping to manage these debilitating symptoms.
Online Therapy
If you’re experiencing depression and need some help but aren’t quite convinced about ECT, our online therapists can help you at anytime to determine if ECT is right for you.
BetterHelp
Online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy, and a University of Zurich study found that it can be more effective in the medium and long term. Their study found that depression could no longer be detected in 53% of online therapy users by the end of treatment (compared to 50% of in-person therapy users). At three months post-treatment,t this number increased to 57% for those who had used online therapy (and decreased to just 42% for in-person therapy).
Conclusion
Part of this success is due to the virtual nature of online therapy. As the therapy itself is conducted online or over the phone, clients from the get-go learn how to cope outside of an office setting. Those who attend in-person therapy may feel improvement during sessions, but some have difficulty in continuing to implement newly learned strategies outside of the office. Additionally, BetterHelp’s platform is incredibly convenient, able to be accessed anytime and anywhere – you’ll need an internet connection to get started.
Please continue reading below to find reviews of some of our board-certified therapists from people seeking help with depression.
Counselor Reviews
Jarad Ringer
“Jarad has helped me so much with depression and anxiety and complicated relationship issues. He helps me see my situation with far more clarity and how to move forward with strength. He understands anything we discuss immediately and with care and a sense of humor when appropriate. I look forward to our sessions and drawing upon his vast knowledge of many topics pertinent to my issues. There is no judgment, and I finally have a safe and productive space to make sense of things.”
Jo-Ann Anstett
“Jo-Ann has been an amazing counselor in every way! From the first session on, I felt completely comfortable talking to her about everything and always felt heard, understood, and well advised in everything. She has helped me learn how to handle my depression and other issues in life better through listening, talking things through, and equipping me with practical and applicable tools that I could use for specific situations and issues. She has continually cheered me up, made me feel like she believes in me, and has been so kind and caring while not shying away from the more difficult questions, really getting me to look at things closer and discover the roots of my problems. I am incredibly grateful for having her as my counselor and can wholeheartedly recommend her!”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What mental illness does ECT treat?
Electroconvulsive therapy is a medical treatment mainly used to treat those who live with bipolar disorder or major depression. In most cases, ECT brain stimulation is only used when a person has not responded to previous treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy is administered while a patient is under anesthesia and involves brief electrical pulses that stimulate the brain. This has benefited mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or major depression, and electroconvulsive therapy is generally accepted as a beneficial treatment for these conditions. If you believe this form of treatment may work for your condition and no other treatment options have had success, reach out to a doctor and look into your options for electroconvulsive therapy.
What is the success rate of ECT?
Electroconvulsive therapy is a highly effective form of therapy that has helped as many as 80-85 percent of patients who experience it. For many, the effects and symptoms of major depression or severe depression disappear for many months after the treatment. This form of brain stimulation is still being researched. Still, it’s widely believed to be effective when reducing the risk of major symptoms from severe depression or bipolar disorder. If you believe this therapy may be beneficial, focus on trying to find a psychiatrist first. Electroconvulsive therapy is a form of treatment that is typically only used when all other treatment methods have failed.
What are the negative side effects of ECT?
Electroconvulsive therapy works effectively and safely on mental health conditions, but there have been some reported side effects from this transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS. Symptoms such as slight memory problems, confusion, physical side effects, nausea, and low blood pressure have been reported in the past but are not considered common. Find a doctor and speak with them about the risks of bilateral electroconvulsive therapy or unilateral ECT if you wish to understand the potential side effects.
How long is a session?
Most sessions can be expected to last around one hour. A patient is in the treatment room for around 15-20 minutes and then spends the rest in a monitored recovery room. ECT is a medically reviewed form of treatment under the American psychiatric association and institute of mental health. Still, given the nature of electroconvulsive therapy treatment through brain stimulation, a doctor may request you to stay for a little more time to ensure your health. Electroconvulsive therapy effectively treats severe mental illnesses, and if you have been looking for an option after all others have failed, find a doctor and speak with them about electroconvulsive therapy.
Can It change your personality?
Electroconvulsive therapy will not change a person’s personality and isn’t even used to treat personality disorders. Those with a severe mental illness may undergo ECT and be requested by a doctor to come in for a medical examination a few times a week shortly after, but this is to ensure there are no short-term memory problems or other side effects. This therapy involves brain stimulation but does not rewire the brain and cause a completely different following treatment.
Does It kill brain cells?
When ECT is administered properly, there is no research to support the killing of brain cells. Some research has shown that electroconvulsive therapy can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factors that stimulate brain cell growth. Whether it is bilateral or unilateral, it is supported by the American psychiatric association and institute of mental health and will not cause brain cell deterioration in normal circumstances. This form of therapy can be highly effective when reducing the risk of major depression and health care problems. Find a psychiatrist or a doctor near you to discuss mental health care treatment options and see if electroconvulsive therapy is right for you.
Does insurance cover treatments?
Most insurance plans will cover ECT costs, but not all. Under the American psychiatric association, ECT is qualified as a necessary treatment for severe psychiatric disorders. As such, it is covered in many cases, unlike other types of drug administration. If you are unsure whether your insurance will cover treatment, find a doctor or reach out to your insurance to inquire. Typically, as outlined by the American psychiatric association, ECT is used multiple times a week for around three to four weeks to treat psychiatric disorders. In most cases, all this treatment or most of this treatment will be covered by an insurance agency.
