ECT

Question 1

What is ECT?

Answer 1

The passage of a small electric current through the brain with a view to inducing a generalised fit which is therapeutic

Question 2

What are the SEs of ECT?

Answer 2

Short-term:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Short term memory impairment
• Memory loss of events prior to ECT
• Cardiac arrhythmia

Long-term:

• Impaired memory (retrograde far more common that anterograde)

Question 3

What are the indications for ECT?

Answer 3

• Treatment resistant severe depression
• Uncontrolled mania
• An episode of moderate depression known to respond to ECT in the past
• Life threatening catatonia (schizophrenia)