Full Answer
Does electroconvulsive therapy work?
Electroconvulsive therapy helps patients with their symptoms in more than 80% of cases – but its stigma means it may not be helping the people it could. The surprising benefits of electroconvulsive therapy - BBC Future Homepage Accessibility links Skip to content Accessibility Help BBC Account Notifications Home News Sport Weather iPlayer Sounds
Is ECT a good treatment?
I actually have never seen any treatment in psychiatry work as phenomenally as ECT has – Vikram Patel “The truth remains [that] it’s an incredibly good treatment,” says Vikram Patel, a professor at Harvard Medical School. “It’s a life-saving treatment, one of the few we have in psychiatry.
Does ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) affect memory?
Memory loss, however, is an issue that many scientists and scientologists agree on, at least to a degree. Although memories lost to ECT usually return within a few weeks, there are reports of permanent losses. Like treating any other disease or operation, the possibility of health has to be weighed against that of harm.
Could ECT be a life-saver?
For many people, ECT could be a life-saver. Suicide – often associated with mental illness – is the leading cause of death in men aged between 20 and 49 in the UK. Around the world, it is the second leading cause of death in 15 to 29 year olds.
Who may benefit the most from electroconvulsive?
These chemical changes may build upon one another, somehow reducing symptoms of severe depression or other mental illnesses. That's why ECT is most effective in people who receive a full course of multiple treatments.
What are some of the benefits of using electroconvulsive therapy to treat depression?
The Benefits of ECT The greatest benefit of ECT is that it can relieve the symptoms of mental health conditions that were formerly untreatable. It is not a cure, but ECT can help people return to a normal, productive life.
Under which of the following circumstances is electroconvulsive therapy used?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used in patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder that has not responded to other treatments.
Who uses psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy can be helpful in treating most mental health problems, including: Anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder.
Who is a good candidate for electroconvulsive therapy?
People who have had ECT before and responded well are good candidates for ECT. Other first-line indications for the procedure include people who are catatonic or suffering from a form of depression known as psychotic depression (depression associated with delusions and hallucinations).
Who is the best candidate for electroconvulsive therapy ECT?
Ideal candidates for ECT tend to be severely depressed individuals who have failed multiple drug therapies, McCall said. Less commonly, patients present with severe disease, for example, the first time they are seen is in the emergency room after a suicide attempt.
What are the indications for electroconvulsive therapy?
ECT is used mainly to treat severe depression, but is also indicated for patients with other conditions, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, catatonia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Does ECT help schizophrenia?
ECT is most commonly used to treat depression, but doctors also recommend it to help with schizophrenia. Compared with medications, it starts to work faster (often within a week), especially with older people. ECT can reduce chances of relapse as long as you undergo follow-up treatments.
Which of the following is a benefit of group therapy?
An important benefit of group therapy is the opportunity to receive feedback from others in a supportive environment. It is rare to find friends who will gently point out how you might be behaving in ways that hurt yourself or others; this is a unique benefit of the group.
What are the benefits of psychotherapy?
It helps build self-esteem, reduce anxiety, strengthen coping mechanisms, and improve social and community functioning. Supportive psychotherapy helps patients deal with issues related to their mental health conditions which in turn affect the rest of their lives.
Does therapy work for everyone?
No, therapy does not help “everyone,” but, there are all the variable to consider before deciding that therapy is for you or not. Today, we have the advantage of using medications in those serious situations where it is called for, to help make therapy more beneficial and available for those individuals who need that.
Why do people go to therapy?
Therapists guide people through some of the most personal and painful experiences of their lives, helping them overcome depression, live with loss, and stop self-destructive behavior (among other issues).