Description
This article is from the Depression
FAQ, by Cynthia Frazier with numerous contributions by
others.
34 Exactly what happens when someone gets ECT?
The physician must fully explain the benefits and dangers of ECT, and
the patient give consent, before ECT can be administered. The patient
should be encouraged to ask questions about the procedure and should
be told that consent for treatments can be withdrawn at any time, and
in the event that this happens, the treatments will be stopped. After
giving consent, the patient undergoes a complete physical
examination, including a chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and blood
and urine tests. A series of ECTs usually consists of six to twelve
treatments. Treatments can be administered to either in-patients or
out-patients. Nothing should be taken by mouth for 8-hours prior to a
treatment. An intravenous drip is started and through it medications
to induce sleep, relax the muscles of the body, and reduce saliva are
given. Once these medications are fully effective, an electrical
stimulus is administered through electrodes to the head. The
electrical stimulus produces brain wave (EEG) changes that are
characteristic of a grand mal seizure. It is believed that this
seizure activity leads to the clinical improvement seen after a
series of ECT. About 30-minutes after the treatment the patient
awakens from sleep. While confused at first, the patient is soon
oriented enough to eat breakfast, and return home if the treatments
are being done in an outpatient setting.
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