How Electroconvulsive Therapy Works

You've probably seen this scene in many movies like One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. A person in a mental institution is running and screaming down the hall. Several goons in white coats catch him, strap him down, and stick a giant, metal ring around his head. A stoic doctor stands by and orders the nurse to flip the switch. Suddenly, blinding currents run through the man's head, causing him to shake uncontrollably, and then finally calm down. Over the door is a sign that says "shock therapy".

So when a doctor recommends "shock therapy" or electroconvulsive therapy as a form of treatment, is it any wonder that people get scared when this is the scene they know? It turns out that electro convulsive therapy can actually do wonders for many people with problems such as depression and bipolar disorder if they actually knew what was involved.

People who receive this treatment are usually those with certain severe disorders related to depression. Electroconvulsive therapy works in theory because some depression is caused when neurotransmitters are not at normal levels. Although there is no hard scientific proof of exactly HOW electroconvulsive therapy changes the transmitters, it has a higher success rate of relieving depression symptoms than other treatments. Doctors will opt to use electroconvulsive therapy in lieu of certain medications if taking the medications proves to be more dangerous. A doctor will recommend electroconvulsive therapy if it will work faster than medications and the patient is in a life-threatening situation.

It is true that electroconvulsive therapy technology back in the 40's was very rudimentary. The treatment was effective, but not much care was given to the overall health of the patient. Mental disorders would see improvement, but patients would suffer from neck and back pains. By the way, no sedation was ever used!

Now when people receive electroconvulsive therapy there is sedation. The delivery of the electricity is very gradual and patients feel virtually no pain. There is sometimes memory loss for a few minutes, but usually all is back to normal. Treatment is given on an average of three times a week over two or three months. 80% of patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy report a relief of symptoms associated with depression.

But just because you receive electroconvulsive therapy doesn't mean you will be magically "cured" of your disorder or disease. It should still be combined with talk therapy or psychotherapy in order to get to the basis of the issues that may be causing severe depression or depression-like symptoms that warranted the treatment in the first place.

It is also recommended that if you or someone you know is going to receive electroconvulsive therapy they know what rights they have. Some countries do not have very strict laws that protect patients from receiving it involuntarily, whereas in America there are patient's rights acts that require doctor get consent.