ECT Flashcards
what is ECT
ECT is used mainly in the treatment of severe depressive episodes. It involves the passage of an electric current across the head of a person to produce a convulsion. The treatment is painless, as the individual is given general anaesthetic and muscle relaxant before and during ECT. It is used when antidepressant medication has not been effective, the severity of symptoms means it is not possible to wait for the effects of such medication to become apparent, or the side-effects to or risks associated with medication make ECT the most appropriate treatment option.
works well with depression, catatonia and mania
how to know if ECT is right for someone
- they may be eating more or less than usual
- their sleeping habits may have changed so that they are not sleeping at all
- harder to concentrate and pay attention
- find it hard to remember things
- getting washed, dressed and ready for the day becomes hard
- organising a routine has become too difficult
- social life may have stopped
- find it difficult to think clearly
the criteria for ECT
- stayed the same and not improved after trying two different types of antidepressant medication
- have experienced side effects on the antidepressant medication that make it unsustainable for you
- life is in danger because they are suicidal
- life is in danger because you have stopped eating or drinking
- life is in danger because your depression is chronic
You are unable to move because of catatonia. - You are unable to slow down because of mania.
- You have become very severely depressed after having a baby.
how does ECT work
by neurotransmitters that are chemical messengers that communicate between one brain cell and another to enable us to think, feel, move and act.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate and control sleep patterns, appetite and sex drive. It may also affect a persons concentration, feelings and energy levels
Adrenaline and noradrenaline are neurotransmitters that help regulate mood
by increasing the number of neurotransmitters. all these antidepressants work to improve sleep and appetite patterns, energy levels, mood and sex drive Neurotransmitter theory suggests that ECT works in a similar way to antidepressant medication. ECT causes a seizure that increases the amount of neurotransmitters available for communication between neurons. At the same time, it also makes the brain cells more responsive to the neurotransmitters.
how long does it last
the effects last 4-6 weeks and then wears off. T ensure longer term wellness, antidepressant medication will be prescribed
one course of ECT treatment can involve between 6-12 individual treatments
