Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Case Study

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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a widely practiced intervention used to treat psychiatric disorders in specific groups of mental health patients.(1-3) A small electrical current is applied via electrodes attached to the patients head to induce a generalised cerebral seizure whilst the patient is sedated under a general anaesthetic.(4) The induction of seizures to treat psychiatric disorders originated from the historical observation that schizophrenic patients improved temporarily after a spontaneous seizure.(5-7) The most common contemporary use of ECT is found in the treatment of mood disorders. The indications, risks and adverse effects of ECT and the evidence justifying its clinical use shall be briefly discussed.

Indications
The primary indication for the use of ECT is for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder arising as part of a unipolar/bipolar depression. Additionally, ECT is indicated in the treatment of mania, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, Parkinson's disease, neuroleptic malignant syndrome and catatonia. (8) The presence of persistent suicidal ideation, psychotic features, malnutrition due to food refusal, history of good response to prior ECT, refractory depression and resistance to traditional anti-depressant medications are all features which should strongly influence the decision to use ECT as part of the patients treatment plan. (9) (10-12) …show more content…

Patients and relatives must be made fully aware of the implications of proposed treatments and the benefits weighed against the risks of undergoing an intervention. The adverse effects of ECT occupy two distinct categories: general medical and cognitive

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