Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
What is ECT?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used in
patients with severe mental illness that have not responded to other treatments.
ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia.
The treatment is administered by a team of trained medical professionals that includes a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a nurse or physician assistant.
ECT has a long history that dates back to the late 1930s. Many advances have been made since then making the practice a modern and well-established medical procedure.
What is ECT used for?
ECT is used to safely and effectively treat various mental illnesses including major depression, bipolar disorder (mania, depression and mixed state), schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, catatonia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, perinatal disorders and Parkinson’s disease. There are growing reports suggesting its benefit in treating post stroke depression, delirium, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain and self-injurious behavior in Autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.
Other factors that determine treatment with ECT include:
* Nature and severity of symptomology;
* Treatment history, particularly treatment resistance;
* Risk versus benefit; and
* Patient preference.
Recent research suggests that ECT works by changing neurons in your brain through growth and reorganization.
About Waypoint's ECT Clinic
The ECT Program at Waypoint has been expanding and adapting to the growing need for several years and we are now able to treat Waypoint inpatients and outpatients five days a week. The ECT Suite is located on the 2nd floor of the Toanche building (Main entrance).
Referrals are accepted through our Central Intake Office. All referrals will be reviewed by our ECT consulting psychiatrist to determine appropriateness of the referral. The ECT team will maintain contact with the patient throughout this referral and treatment process.