ECT is used much less often today partly because of the availability of more potent and safer anti depressants and also the development of the field of psychotherapy. Plus, there are a variety of organizations and social support groups to help mental health patents overcome their disabilities
Even so, depression can take an acute turn for the worse with the individual going downhill fast and not eating, talking or even communicating. Some may develop acute psychosis and delusions and become very suicidal.
In these cases, ECT may offer a rapid therapeutic benefit compared to what is available and may be an excellent alternative. All current scientific data indicate that for acute depression with suicidal tendencies, ECT is an excellent form of therapy.
Many individuals who have had ECT in the past have found it helpful and seek the treatment when they feel depressed again.
ECT is relatively expensive. The costs of the treatment depend on which state one is receiving the therapy, the cost of anesthesia and the fees of the psychiatrist. On average the costs of ECT are about $ 800-$1200. The cost covers the fee for anesthesia, the psychiatrist and hospital admission. Most individuals receive anywhere from 6-8 treatments.
Many medical insurance plans and Medicare do reimburse the cost of ECT. While this may not sound cheap, it is a lot cheaper than taking anti depressant drugs for life
Showing posts with label ECT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ECT. Show all posts
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Current Recommendations on Electroconvulsive therapy Usage
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) used to be a dangerous treatment 50 years ago but a lot has changed today. Over the past 30 years, the techniques of anesthesia have greatly improved, we have better and safer sedative drugs, there are monitoring machines and the procedure is always done in a health care facility.
Unlike the past, ECT today is a bona fide treatment for some mental health disorders and not a sadistic procedure as depicted in the movies. It is very rare for any individual to complain of pain before, during or after the procedure. Medicine was primitive 50 years ago and no doubt was a cause of many painful ordeals-but this was not unique to ECT but to all of medicine and surgery.
Today, the American Psychiatric Association has very strict guidelines for ECT administration. One can not simply hand over a prescription to a patient to go to a hospital and have shock therapy. The American psychiatric organization supports use of ECT only to treat severe, disabling mental disorders and is never used to control behavior.
Despite its dubious past, electroconvulsive therapy is now a relatively safe and effective procedure. Compared to the conventional anti depressants, ECT works faster and can help resolve acute depression when other treatments have failed. However, like all things in medicine, ECT does have certain risks which are real but very small.
Unlike the past, ECT today is a bona fide treatment for some mental health disorders and not a sadistic procedure as depicted in the movies. It is very rare for any individual to complain of pain before, during or after the procedure. Medicine was primitive 50 years ago and no doubt was a cause of many painful ordeals-but this was not unique to ECT but to all of medicine and surgery.
Today, the American Psychiatric Association has very strict guidelines for ECT administration. One can not simply hand over a prescription to a patient to go to a hospital and have shock therapy. The American psychiatric organization supports use of ECT only to treat severe, disabling mental disorders and is never used to control behavior.
Despite its dubious past, electroconvulsive therapy is now a relatively safe and effective procedure. Compared to the conventional anti depressants, ECT works faster and can help resolve acute depression when other treatments have failed. However, like all things in medicine, ECT does have certain risks which are real but very small.
What is status of Electroconvulsive therapy today? Part 2
ECT in the present era of medicine is safe and bona fide therapy. The reason for the bad reputation is because delivery of ECT in the older days was never controlled and complications were never anticipated. Today, a lot more is known about the therapy and both delivery and safety have been refined and improved to near perfection.
Who is a candidate for ECT?
ECT is generally reserved for individuals who have:
- severe depression, accompanied by acute psychosis or suicidal ideations
- failed to respond to a variety of standard anti depressant drugs
- side effects or are unable to tolerate anti depressant drugs
- mild to moderate degree of psychosis which does not warrant the use of life long
drug therapy
- depression but have failed to respond to all forms of other therapies
Electroconvulsive therapy is a very effective and rapidly acting treatment for severe major depression. ECT has been found to be beneficial in individuals who suffer with some forms of mania (a mood episode which is associated with grandiose, hyperactive, irrational, and destructive behavior). When it comes to treatment of other mental health disorders like schizoaffective disorder, catatonia or Parkinson's disease, the role of ECT therapy is questionable.
ECT even though an effective treatment has been under utilized in the USA even though there are close to 9 million America who suffer from depression. Data indicate that only about 330,000 individuals have received ECT. ECT is delivered as an outpatient treatment.
Who is a candidate for ECT?
ECT is generally reserved for individuals who have:
- severe depression, accompanied by acute psychosis or suicidal ideations
- failed to respond to a variety of standard anti depressant drugs
- side effects or are unable to tolerate anti depressant drugs
- mild to moderate degree of psychosis which does not warrant the use of life long
drug therapy
- depression but have failed to respond to all forms of other therapies
Electroconvulsive therapy is a very effective and rapidly acting treatment for severe major depression. ECT has been found to be beneficial in individuals who suffer with some forms of mania (a mood episode which is associated with grandiose, hyperactive, irrational, and destructive behavior). When it comes to treatment of other mental health disorders like schizoaffective disorder, catatonia or Parkinson's disease, the role of ECT therapy is questionable.
ECT even though an effective treatment has been under utilized in the USA even though there are close to 9 million America who suffer from depression. Data indicate that only about 330,000 individuals have received ECT. ECT is delivered as an outpatient treatment.
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