Much Ado About Electro convulsive therapy

Most people seem to think that Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a dangerous treatment often given to prisoners or to punish a patient. Others seem to think that the treatment is painful and causes life long complications. The misconceptions have arisen primarily because health care professionals simply have not made an effort to educate the public

Electroconvulsive Therapy is generally performed by a psychiatrist. ECT is bona fide therapy with great benefits for certain depressed patients and is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the US Surgeon General's office.

Most individuals only receive 6-12 ECT sessions spread over an interval of a few months. The treatments are given 2-3 times a week for a month as an outpatient. The treatments are administered under general anesthesia and the patient is also given a muscle relaxant. The brain is connected with electrodes that are placed in specific locations over the scalp. Once the individual is asleep, an electrical current that causes a seizure is delivered. The seizure typically lasts about 45-60 seconds. There is no pain or any other visible symptom after the procedure.