How does Electric Convulsive Therapy work?

Answer 1

Our brains are actually electrical systems, with the neurons "firing" in order to make connections. In the case of ongoing or severe depression, the neurons slow down, making a person feel sluggish, disinterested in their normal activities and with a negative view of themselves, their current situation and, perhaps, of life itself. During the manic stage of Bipolar disorder, the neurons are hyperactive, resulted in racing thoughts, a speeded up level of activity, and over-confidence in themselves and their abilities, sometimes resulting in poor decisions such as overspending or practicing indiscriminate sex. Sending a pulse or pulses of electricity through a depressed brain momentarily induces a hyperactive state, which balances out the brain activity afterwards. It is one treatment option for someone who suffers from severe, ongoing depression; or whose brain is resistant to drug therapy.

When this treatment was first developed more than 60 year ago, the practice was to induce severe convulsions which sometimes resulted in physical damage to the back or the brain. It was also a painful procedure and some people outside the medical profession considered it to be a way to frighten patients into "snapping out of it" by force of their own will. Today, much more is understood about the functioning of the brain, and it has been found that only a fraction of the amount of electricity administered is necessary to be safe and achieve positive results.

Some individuals use this alternative treatment option as a way to control their depression without using drugs. They are given a relaxant or anesthetic and wheeled into the treatment room on a gurney. They do not report experiencing pain, and afterward are taken to a room for recovery where they may relax for two or three days. During this time, they may use various methods to help minimize side effects (such as temporary loss of memory or confusion) by doing crossword or other types of brain challenging puzzles. When they are released, they often report feeling rested, refreshed, and ready to resume their normal activities at home and at work.

If you or someone you love has been offered this option, the doctor or psychiatrist will be able to explain exactly what to expect. Thia is an individual choice, and the patient will be given the option of accepting or refusing this method of treatment.