Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
- Created by: Georgie Whitworth
- Created on: 27-04-11 22:31
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Biological Therapies- ECT
- ECT is generally used in severely depressed patients when psychotherapy and medication has proved ineffective.
- It is often used when there is a risk of suicide because it often has much quicker effects than anti-depressant drugs.
- There are 5 steps to the therapy
- Firstly, electrodes are placed on the head. One above the temple of the non-dominant side of the brain, and a second in the middle of the forehead (unilateral). Alternatively, one electrode is placed above each temple (bilateral).
- Then the patient is injected with a short-acting barbituate so they are unconcious before the electric shock is administered.
- They are then given a nerve blocking agent in order to paralyse the muscles of the body so they do not contract…
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