Are you suffering from severe depression? Perhaps a friend of yours is suffering from this condition. Are you feeling very depressed and frustrated despite taking the medication prescribed by your doctor and trying different types of medication? If so, today we are going to talk about another very effective treatment that can help you. That is ECT, or Electroconvulsive Therapy. The name sounds a little scary, doesn't it? But it's actually not as scary as you think.
What exactly is ECT?
Simply put, ECT is one of the safest and most effective treatments available for mental illnesses such as major depression and bipolar disorder.
This involves putting you under general anesthesia (putting you to sleep), attaching electrodes to your scalp, and delivering a very controlled, subtle electrical current to your brain. This current causes a seizure in the brain that lasts for a few seconds. This is like 'resetting' the brain.
Many people think that this is something painful, like what is shown in the movies, where the patient is given electric shocks while they are conscious. That is a completely wrong idea. Today, ECT is a very advanced, safe, and painless treatment.
This treatment can provide rapid relief , especially for someone who is seriously ill and has suicidal thoughts. It can also be a life-saving treatment in cases where it is too dangerous to wait for medication to start working.
How do you prepare for ECT treatment?
After deciding whether you are suitable for ECT treatment, your doctor will perform several tests to see if you are in a good health condition. These are the tests that are usually performed.
| Test | What do you see in that? |
|---|---|
| Electrocardiogram (EKG) | Your heart's electrical activity is being checked. |
| Blood Tests | Things like a complete blood count (CBC), thyroid function, and kidney function are checked. |
| Chest X-ray | This can be done if there is a suspicion of heart disease. |
| CT Scan | This is sometimes done to see if your symptoms are caused by an abnormality in the brain. |
Consent
Before all of this, you or your medical power of attorney will sign a consent form for this treatment. This means that you are aware of this treatment and give your consent to it.
How ECT treatment is performed
On the day of the treatment, you will not feel any discomfort or pain. Because you are fully anesthetized, which means you are sound asleep. Here are the steps in the treatment:
1. Putting in an IV line: An IV line (cannula) will be put into a vein in your arm. This is where anesthetics and muscle relaxants are given.
2. ECG Leads: ECG leads will be attached to your chest to monitor your heart function throughout the treatment.
3. Attaching EEG leads: EEG leads are attached to the scalp. This allows the doctor to monitor brain waves.
4. Bite Guard: To prevent damage to the teeth, a soft guard is placed between the teeth.
5. Electrode placement: Finally, ECT electrodes are attached to the appropriate locations on the scalp.
Once everything is ready, a very controlled electrical current is delivered to the brain. Because the muscle relaxants have been administered, the seizure is only visible as a very subtle movement of the arm or leg.
You will regain consciousness within a few minutes. But you will have no memory of the treatment or anything that happened at that time. You may feel a little confused at first, but this will go away after a while.
This treatment is usually given two or three times a week for 2-4 weeks. The number of treatments required will be determined by your doctor based on your condition.
Who benefits from ECT treatment and who shouldn't?
This treatment is not suitable for everyone. And for some people, the benefits are very high. Let's take a look at that.
| Who benefits most from ECT? | Who should not receive ECT (at risk) |
|---|---|
| People with severe depression that does not respond to medication (treatment-resistant depression). | People who have recently had a heart attack. |
| Those at high risk of suicide. | People with uncontrolled heart disease. |
| People who refuse to eat and are malnourished. | People with increased pressure in the brain. |
| People suffering from catatonia. | People who have recently had a brain hemorrhage (stroke, aneurysm). |
| People with severe depression or bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms. | People with severe respiratory diseases (e.g. COPD). |
| Those who need urgent treatment during pregnancy. | Not given to children under 11 years of age. |
What are the side effects?
As with any medical treatment, ECT has some side effects that some people may experience. Most of these are temporary.
- Confusion: You may feel a little confused for a few hours after treatment. This is especially common in older people.
- Memory Loss: Retrograde amnesia may occur during treatment. Sometimes, it can be difficult to remember events for the first few weeks of treatment. These memory problems usually improve over time.
- Physical discomfort: Headaches, jaw pain, and muscle aches may occur.
- Nausea: Some people may experience nausea.
- Complications from anesthesia: The risks associated with any anesthesia are common here as well.
The most important thing is to talk openly about all of this with your doctor. That way, you can dispel any fears and doubts you may have.
Life after ECT
After completing a course of treatment, your depression symptoms may have improved significantly. But that's not the end of the story. Your doctor may recommend continuing to take medication or psychotherapy as maintenance therapy to prevent your depression from coming back.
After treatment, you should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until your doctor tells you to.
Take-Home Message
- ECT is not something scary like in the movies. It is a very safe and effective treatment for severe depression.
- This treatment is performed under full anesthesia, so you won't feel any pain.
- Side effects such as memory problems and confusion that may occur after treatment are often temporary.
- This is not a 'quick fix'. Even after treatment, maintenance treatment (medication or psychotherapy) is essential to prevent depression from returning.
- Always discuss with your doctor whether this treatment is right for you or a loved one.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න