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Can An ECT Therapy Help In Treating Severe Anxiety And Depression?
Question: I may be asking this question to the same person I've asked others to. I'm just discovering this website so I might be wearing you out. Anyway, I have pretty severe anxiety and depression. I've been unresponsive to medication. I was wondering about ETC therapy. Does it really work? Clinically sound? Are the results permanent? Any dangers?
Brief Answer:
Yes it can be used, effective and safe
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns.
There is no doubt that ECT is most effective and safe treatment in psychiatric disorders but used sparingly due to attached stigma and other factors.
Regarding anxiety ECT is effective but it is rarely used as most patient respond to one or another medication. In case you are not able to tolerate medication or there is no response we can think of ECT.
Regarding depression I think we can go for ECT without giving another thought if you are not responsive to medication.
Often anxiety and depression occur at the same time so I feel conclusively it can be said that yes ECT can be used for anxiety and depression and there is around more than two third chance of having response to ECT in drug resistant anxiety and depression.
Regarding the effectiveness and clinical soundness I think this is the best available treatment for various psychiatric disorders including depression.
The effect is not permanent but more lasting than any medication. It has been observed that after ECT the chance for responsiveness to medication increases and I think that should be explored along with ECT administration.
Regarding dangers it is quite safe and to separate risk other than anesthesia related. There are some short term memory impairment but they are time limited and almost all patients recover from memory issues in less than 24 hours.
I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to mea.
Thanks and regards.
Yes it can be used, effective and safe
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns.
There is no doubt that ECT is most effective and safe treatment in psychiatric disorders but used sparingly due to attached stigma and other factors.
Regarding anxiety ECT is effective but it is rarely used as most patient respond to one or another medication. In case you are not able to tolerate medication or there is no response we can think of ECT.
Regarding depression I think we can go for ECT without giving another thought if you are not responsive to medication.
Often anxiety and depression occur at the same time so I feel conclusively it can be said that yes ECT can be used for anxiety and depression and there is around more than two third chance of having response to ECT in drug resistant anxiety and depression.
Regarding the effectiveness and clinical soundness I think this is the best available treatment for various psychiatric disorders including depression.
The effect is not permanent but more lasting than any medication. It has been observed that after ECT the chance for responsiveness to medication increases and I think that should be explored along with ECT administration.
Regarding dangers it is quite safe and to separate risk other than anesthesia related. There are some short term memory impairment but they are time limited and almost all patients recover from memory issues in less than 24 hours.
I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to mea.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks! You seem to know quite a bit about this. I guess the only other question I have is regarding the treatment protocol. Am I to understand that this requires many sessions over an extended period of time lessening toward the end? Also, I suppose there would be follow up sessions.
Would it be common for insurance to cover this type of therapy?
Would it be common for insurance to cover this type of therapy?
Brief Answer:
I think they should cover
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Regarding the treatment protocol mostly there is need of six to 10 sessions over a extended period of time and as a rule three sessions taken per week.In other words it may take somewhere from two to four weeks time to complete treatment. Sometime when there is problem of memory impairment we increases the gap between two subsequent sessions.
As I said in the past after the initial treatment mostly person is kept on medication to sustain the benefit offered by ECT. In some instances we can think of maintenance ECT in which a single session administered every 15 to 30 days. I must acknowledge that there is limited data about maintenance ECT and not everybody practices it.
Regarding insurance I am not sure what is the practice in your country but ideally it should be covered. To be XXXXXXX this questions can be answered better by your insurance company and treating doctor.
I hope this assists you further.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
I think they should cover
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Regarding the treatment protocol mostly there is need of six to 10 sessions over a extended period of time and as a rule three sessions taken per week.In other words it may take somewhere from two to four weeks time to complete treatment. Sometime when there is problem of memory impairment we increases the gap between two subsequent sessions.
As I said in the past after the initial treatment mostly person is kept on medication to sustain the benefit offered by ECT. In some instances we can think of maintenance ECT in which a single session administered every 15 to 30 days. I must acknowledge that there is limited data about maintenance ECT and not everybody practices it.
Regarding insurance I am not sure what is the practice in your country but ideally it should be covered. To be XXXXXXX this questions can be answered better by your insurance company and treating doctor.
I hope this assists you further.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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