ElectroConvulsiveTherapy (ECT)

Used:

• severly depressed, psychotherapy and medication ineffective. Risk of suicide as has quicker results than antidepressants. NICE(2003) Only use when all other treatments fail.

How it works:

• Electrode placed above temple of non-dominant side of brain, 2nd middle of forehead. Or 1 electrode placed above each temple.
• Injected with acute barbiturate (unconscious before shock,given nerve-blocking paralysing musclespreventing contraction) Oxygen given compensating.
• Small electric current,1/2 second, passed through brain. Seizure lasts 1 minute affecting brain
• Given 3x a…