Personalized Care for Every Individual
18 years old and older.
Personalized Care for Every Individual
18 years old and older.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)- is an accepted form of treatment for certain types of psychiatric disorders. It has been used successfully in thoughts of cases in this country and abroad since its introduction in 1938. It is one of the most effective ways of treating depression and certain other conditions in patients who might otherwise require prolonged hospitalization.
When successful, a course of ECT induces a remission in a episode of illness; it does not in itself produce a “cure” any more than does a course of antidepressant, antimanic, or antipsychotic medication that is limited to the episode of illness. Continuation/maintenance therapy is nearly always indicated.
There no standard number of ECT treatment. The patient should be treated until Full recovery or A plateau in improvement is reached, and no further gains have been seen after the last 2 treatments.
Consent for treatment should be reobtained at least every 6 months.
Routine Practice is to give ECT three times a week on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule Index course consist of approximately
8-12 treatments.
Therapy in the 6-month period following the index course. After Index course scheduling of continuation ECT involves gradually shifting from frequent (weekly) to monthly treatments over a period of 1 to 3 months, then keeping to a monthly rate.
Therapy continuing beyond 6 months after the index course once every 1-2 months depending on patient’s condition.
- Death (around 1 per 10,000 patients): cardiac arrest, prolonged apnea, status epilepticus, cerebral herniation.
- Stroke
- Bone fractures
- Broken tooth
- Memory loss (acute postictal confusional state, retrograde or anterograde amnesia)
- Muscle pain
- Delirium (postictal confusion 10 min-1 hr)
- Headache
- Nausea
In 1938, after a series of studies using nonhuman animals, Cerletti applied electroshock to a 19-year-old man found wandering the streets of Rome in a psychotic state. The patient received 11 electroshock applications, and was reported to be "cured" after 1 year and able to return to his former job. Electroshock methods were introduced to the United States in 1939. In 1938, after a series of studies using nonhuman animals, Cerletti applied electroshock to a 19-year-old man found wandering ...
ECT increases metabolism and blood flow in certain parts of the brainECT increases metabolism and blood flow in certain parts of the brain
Monitoring has consisted of the detection of the presence and duration of the motor convulsive response and EEG monitoring.Monitoring has consisted of the detection of the presence and duration of the motor convulsive response and EEG monitoring.
If you are interested in ECT as an alternative treatment for your psychiatric condition, please contact our Center to schedule an appointment with Dr. Venera R. Miller (Board Certified and ECT-Certified Psychiatrist) to be evaluated for the appropriateness of this treatment in your case. Treatment will be administered at Sibley Memorial Hospital (Washington DC) by Dr. Miller.
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Department of Psychiatry
5255 Loughboro Road, NW
Washington DC 20016
Phone: (202) 537-4770
Fax: (202) 537-4737
Information Concerning ECT and Requirements at Sibley Memorial Hospital