Admin Table of Contents
Do psychiatrists use electroconvulsive therapy?
ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. It is typically administered by a team of trained medical professionals that includes a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a nurse or physician assistant.
What is the major idea of using ECT in modern psychotherapy?
Why it’s done. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can provide rapid, significant improvements in severe symptoms of several mental health conditions. ECT is used to treat: Severe depression, particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis), a desire to commit suicide or refusal to eat.
Who is the best candidate for electroconvulsive therapy ECT )?
Ideal candidates for ECT tend to be severely depressed individuals who have failed multiple drug therapies, McCall said. Less commonly, patients present with severe disease, for example, the first time they are seen is in the emergency room after a suicide attempt.
What are the indications of electroconvulsive therapy?
What are the indications for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of major depressive disorder (clinical depression)?
- Need for a rapid antidepressant response.
- Failure of drug therapies.
- History of good response to ECT.
- Patient preference.
- High risk of suicide.
- High risk of medical morbidity and mortality.
When was electroconvulsive therapy first used?
The ECT procedure was first conducted in 1938 by Italian psychiatrist Ugo Cerletti and rapidly replaced less safe and effective forms of biological treatments in use at the time. ECT is often used with informed consent as a safe and effective intervention for major depressive disorder, mania, and catatonia.
Is electroconvulsive therapy used for schizophrenia?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a remarkably effective treatment for major depressive disorder, but is less commonly utilized for treatment of psychotic disorders. Recent literature indicates that ECT can be a useful strategy for a wide range of psychotic disorders, including treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
What is ECT in psychiatric nursing?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure in which electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure.
What are the types of ECT?
There are 2 types of ECT.
- Bilateral ECT. This is when the current is passed through both sides of your head.
- Unilateral ECT. This is when the current is only on one side of your head.
Which of the following medications may be administered before electroconvulsive therapy?
Medications such as antihypertensives, antianginals, antiarrhythmics (except lidocaine), bronchodilators (except theophylline), glaucoma medications (except long-acting cholinesterase inhibitors), and corticosteroids may be safely given prior to ECT. Antacid medications and proton pump inhibitors may be safely used.
Who qualifies for electroconvulsive therapy?
Any adult age 18 or older with an appropriate clinical diagnosis and who is capable of giving voluntary informed consent can receive ECT.
When do you consider ECT electroconvulsive therapy?
It should be considered in cases of treatment-resistant depression, schizophrenia, and mania. It should also be considered as a first-line treatment in certain urgently ill patients who require rapid response due to the severity of their medical or psychiatric illness.
What is the mechanism of action of electroconvulsive therapy?
The main mechanism of action in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the induction of a generalized clonic seizure. This seizure is triggered by the delivery of an electric current to the patient’s brain using electrodes placed on the patient’s head.
Who is the coordinator of electroconvulsive therapy?
Guidelines: Providers should designate a psychiatrist as the coordinator of ECT services. The coordinator of ECT services should be a psychiatrist privileged to administer ECT and should have clearly defined duties and responsibilities.
What to know about electroconvulsive therapy ( ECT )?
1 Specific components of the evaluation of patients identified for ECT vary on a case-by-case basis; however, each… 2 ECT may be provided on an inpatient or outpatient basis. During the pre- ECT evaluation the treating physician should… More
Who are good candidates for electroconvulsive therapy?
People who have had ECT before and responded well are good candidates forECT. Other first-line indications for the procedure include people who arecatatonic or suffering from a form of depression known as psychotic depression(depression associated with delusions and hallucinations).
Can an elderly person get electroconvulsive therapy?
Elderly patients may receive ECT regardless of age. The efficacy of treatment does not diminish with advancing age. ECT may have a lower risk of complications than some forms of pharmacotherapy in the elderly. Pregnant women and nursing mothers may receive ECT during all trimesters of pregnancy, puerperium and nursing.