Electroconvulsive therapy for severe mental illness

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is given to patients suffering from severe psychiatric disorder. ECT is applied to treat patients who grip in following mental syndrome:

-Severe depression, mainly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis). Patients develop a desire to commit suicide or refusal to eat.

-Treatment-resistant depression, a severe depression that cannot be treated with medications or other treatments.

-Severe mania, a state of intense euphoria, agitation or hyperactivity that occurs as part of bipolar disorder.

-Catatonia in which there is a strange movements, lack of speech, and other symptoms. It's related with schizophrenia.

-Agitation and aggression in people with dementia, which can be difficult to treat.

In this therapy, a procedure in which a brief application of electric stimulus is used to produce a generalized seizure. Usually, this therapy is applied for treating patients with severe depression, acute mania, and certain schizophrenic syndromes. 

Electroconvulsive therapy is most safe and effectual treatments available for patients of depression. In Electroconvulsive therapy, electrodes are placed on the patient's scalp and a finely controlled electric current is applied while the patient is under general anaesthesia. The current leads to a brief seizure in the brain. With Electroconvulsive therapy, Patients gets quick relieve.  Electroconvulsive therapy is also given to depressed patients who do not respond to psychiatric medication.

There are two major types of Electroconvulsive therapies that include unilateral and bilateral. In bilateral ECT, electrodes are placed on either side of head. The treatment affects person’s entire brain. In unilateral ECT, one electrode is placed on the top of head. The other is placed on right temple. This treatment affects only the right side of brain.

There are some side effects when applying ECT but these are mild. They can include headache or muscle ache in the hours following treatment, confusion shortly after treatment, nausea, usually shortly after a treatment, memory loss (short-term or long-term) and rarely irregular heart rate. It is also stated in psychological reports that Electroconvulsive therapy can be fatal but there are rare cases

Though, there is misconception among people that Electroconvulsive therapy is vicious and damage brain but this therapy is useful in relieving the symptoms of mental illness. Many people consider that ECT could be a life-saver.

In treating chronic psychiatric disorders, Electroconvulsive therapy is normally a last option. In majority of cases, Electroconvulsive therapy helps patients with their symptoms.

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