Essay On Electroconvulsive Therapy

The electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) which is to cause a shock or brain seizure. This method of treatment is rarely used because it is very intrusive. This is done with only severe depression. The most common treatment is antidepressants. There are three classifications of antidepressants: MAO inhibitors, tricyclics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

ECT has become much safer than the dangerous past shown in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Electroconvulsive therapy has little resemblance to that depiction. ECT brings about fast results compared to some other medications and treatments. After the shock, there is immediate relief to the symptoms of many mental illnesses. The electric current only lasts for a few seconds and the seizure lasts for about a minute. Many medications take weeks to become effective and ECT is an ideal option for those people that need the relief right away. ECT has often worked when many other treatments have

What remains unknown is why electroconvulsive therapy is effective. A plethora of studies show the neurochemical correlates of this treatment and its relation to the anti-depressant effect, yet none are conclusive. Richard Abrams has studied ECT for years and discusses a wide variety of reasons for its effectiveness in his revised edition of Electroconvulsive Therapy. For a person who has studied this treatment for 50 years, he concludes

Although more SZ patient improved with real ECT, which compared to placebo, when comparing to antipsychotics medication, the drugs are more beneficial. There was some limited evidence to suggest that ECT combined with medication resulted in greater improvement in mental state. The conclusion was that a combination of drugs and ECT could be useful if a rapid reduction of symptoms is required or when patients don’t respond well to drugs alone. (Tharyan and adams 2005)

1. What I think Pennington means by referring to his story, as “my truth” is he wanted people to know that this was his story and he was not lying or by any means stretching the truth about his journey in slavery as well as his journey to freedom. During Pennington’s narrative, he portrays his “truth” when he states that the fact about himself is his own private property and no one else has the right to them. The shows that Pennington would never use someone else story or journey as his own like we has discussed in earlier narratives because he holds his “Truth” to dear and it are sacred to him.

(Nordenberg, 4-6). People with milder forms of depression may respond favorably to psychotherapy; however, it is common for people with moderate to sever depression to benefit from both the use of anti-depressants and psychotherapy. Lastly, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used by people who suffer from severe depression or by people whose depression is life threatening or for those who cannot take anti-depressant medications. ECT is most effective where anti-depressants can't provide sufficient relief of symptoms. In order for ECT to be effective, several sessions are necessary, usually three sessions per week. (5). ("Depression: An Overview" 5-7).

Electroconvulsive therapy, also known as ECT, is a medical procedure that is used in the treatment of mental illness. In ECT, a small electrical impulse is sent through the brain, resulting in an ephemeral seizure. Though the process is generally effective, modern science is unaware of the explanation behind ECT's success. Its history is filled with a large amount of stigma and the use of ECT as a therapy is still debated today. ECT has evolved to a point where its beneficial effects can be maximized and its adverse effects can be minimized through proper administration.

The rationale for ECT is to provide relief from the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses such as severe depression,

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for severe mental illness in which the brain is stimulated with a strong electrical current which induces a seizure. The seizure rearranges the brain's neurochemistry and results in an elevation of mood. This essay asks: Is ECT any safer and more effective in treating mood disorders than drug therapies? This treatment has a controversial history ever since it was first introduced in 1938. I intend to argue that electroconvulsive therapy is indeed a safe treatment of mental disorders when other treatments have failed. Due to the development of safer and less traumatic ways of administering ECT,

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a technique in which electric streams are passed through the brain, triggering a short-term seizure. Electroconvulsive therapy causes changes in brain chemistry that can reverse symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses. It is used as a last resort when conventional methods are unsuccessful, or in the elderly who can’t tolerate medication side effects, or for people who chose electroconvulsive therapy over pharmaceuticals.

Electroconvulsive therapy- is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses ("Lithium, benzodiazepines," 1992)

The first argument for the use of ECT is the fact that majority of studies and modern literature show that this treatment is very successful in treating many psychological disorders. Evidence seems strongest for the efficacy in severely depressed patients, as well as manic patients (Reisner, 2003). When looking at those with major depression, the likelihood of substantial improvement ranges from 80-90% (Weiner & Krystal, 1994). In manic patients, Gabbard concludes that 80% of patients show “marked improvement” (2001, p.1272).

For many years, electroconvulsive therapy has been used to treat multiple mental illnesses. Most research that has been done on electroconvulsive therapy has looked at its effectiveness in depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Though there are plenty of treatments for those suffering from schizophrenia, it is still difficult to find the treatment that works best for each case. There are many cases where patients do not respond to antipsychotics; these cases are known as treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Most research on electroconvulsive therapy as treatment for schizophrenia has looked at how effective it is with or without the use of antipsychotics in patients. Since there are so many cases of treatment-resistant schizophrenia, it is important to find some kind of treatment that will work on reducing their symptoms. Though the topic of electroconvulsive therapy is controversial, if research shows it is effective in reducing symptoms of treatment-resistant schizophrenia then it should be considered as treatment.

On the other hand, majority of the side effects linked to ECT are usually minor and can be managed by careful screening of patients, close monitoring during ECT and regular administration of medications. ECT is beneficial as it quickly relieves symptoms of major depression such as depressed mood, lack of interest, appetite and weight, sleep disturbances, feelings of hopelessness, loss of self-esteem, and thoughts of suicide. Similarly, the remission of ECT is reported to range from 20-80 per cent. Extensive research has also suggested that ECT does not cause permanent brain damage as once thought and the risk of mortality is 1 in 10,000. Additionally, ECT is only administered after

After researching electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), I have decided that if a close family member or even myself were severely depressed I would not support the use of ECT. Electroconvulsive therapy consists of an electrical shock, which is used to produce a seizure. Many people experience seizures due to some other type of illness or illnesses, and in these cases there is medicine taken in order to prevent these occurrences. In deciding my opinion on the topic of ECT I asked myself would I want to put myself or a loved one through what others are trying to avoid; a seizure. Although ECT has proven to be effective in some cases of depression, it has many risk factors involved and it does not ensure a lifetime with out the reoccurrence of