How Does Electroconvulsive Therapy Help Depressed Patients?

This particular type of treatment used in severe cases of depression has been improved tremendously over the past several years. Electroconvulsive therapy, which is otherwise known as ECT, is a treatment option that some physicians and specialists use when other treatment options have not successfully worked to treat severe and life-threatening cases of depression.

Some other reasons that this form of treatment may be used would include the following:

In patients that are unable to take prescription antidepressants
In patients that have suffered extreme weight loss
Patients that are a serious risk for suicide attempts
In patients that have suffered physical illnesses that have caused physical debilitation
In cases of psychotic thinking
In patients that show extreme agitation

For this type of treatment to be effective, the patient will need to undergo several procedures that involve the use of ECT treatment (generally three times each week), before a noticeable and effective therapeutic benefit has been reached. Although this type of treatment involves electrical impulses that last approximately 30 seconds as they reach the brain, the patient is not aware of the activity that is taking place within the brain.

Depression Medications

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