Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Definition, Types, Techniques, Efficacy

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesTechniquesUsesBenefitsEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Techniques

Uses

Benefits

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

Close

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a form of psychiatric treatment that involves inducing seizures with the use of electrical stimulation while an individual is under general anesthesia. An estimated 100,000 people in the US have ECT each year.

ECT is most often used for cases oftreatment-resistant depressionand some other psychiatric conditions, includingbipolar disorderandpsychosis, although its use still remains somewhat controversial in the general public.

Approximately 62% of ECT patients are women, while a third of ECT patients are aged 65 and older; a disproportionate number of patients are White.Use in children and teens remains relatively rare. Some states, including Colorado and Texas, prohibit the use of ECT in children and adolescents under the age of 16.

Types of ECT

Generally speaking, there are two types of ECT:

What Is Deep Brain Stimulation?

ECT can be done while you’re in the hospital or as an outpatient procedure.

On the day of the procedure, you can expect the following:

The number and type of treatments you will need depend on the severity of your symptoms. ECT is typically given two to three times a week initially for an average of six to 12 sessions and is often tapered over time.

What ECT Can Help With

ECT is often used when people are unresponsive to other mainstream treatments, likeantidepressant drugsandpsychotherapy. ECT has also been found effective in people who require a rapid treatment response due to the severity of their condition orrisk for suicide.

ECT is used to treat the following:

Researchers don’t yet know the precise reason why ECT works, but one theory is that it helps to correct imbalances in the brain’s chemical messenger system. Others say that the seizure “resets” the brain. Several treatments may be needed to see a lasting effect.

Benefits of ECT

ECT may offer a number of important benefits, including:

Another benefit of ECT is that it may work even when other treatments have not. People who have not experienced significant benefits from psychotherapy and medications may show improvements after being treated with ECT.

While the use of ECT maintains some stigma, many studies and literature reviews suggest that it can be a safe and effective treatment, particularly in the case of depression, catatonia, psychosis, and suicidality.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

People may feel relief from their symptoms fairly quickly, but it often takes several treatments to experience the benefit. They may also experience side effects ranging from minor to more severe, including:

Memory loss, usually short-term and retrograde (things learned in the recent past), during the acute course of the treatment is one of the most commonly reported side effects of ECT.

A newer ECT technique, right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy, may allow for fewer memory issues with the treatment.

If you think that ECT might be helpful for you, talk to your doctor. Prior to receiving ECT, you’ll need a full health evaluation, including:

Having certain medical conditions may rule out ECT as a treatment option. Your doctor will weigh your personal risk level and also discuss the risks of anesthesia, which vary from procedure to procedure and person to person.

You may also need to either stop taking certain medications or have the dosage adjusted prior to your appointment.

The actual procedure itself usually takes just five to 10 minutes to perform, but you will need extra time to prepare and recover.

Your doctor will provide more detailed instructions and information about what you need to do to prepare for and recover from the procedure. In most cases, you can expect a fairly quick return to your normal daily routine after ECT treatment.

Before undergoing ECT, talk with your doctor to make sure you have explored other options and discussed the risks. It’s also important to keep in mind that ECT is not a cure. People with serious mental health conditions will need to continue maintenance treatment, including psychotherapy, medication, and ongoing ECT treatments.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation vs. ECT

18 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Why ECT is becoming a preferred depression treatment | mclean hospital. (n.d.-d). https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/ect-shouldnt-be-last-resort-treatmentThompson JW, Weiner RD, Myers CP.Use of ECT in the United States in 1975, 1980, and 1986.Am J Psychiatry. 1994;151(11):1657-61. doi:10.1176/ajp.151.11.1657Luccarelli, J., Henry, M. E., & McCoy, T. H. (2020, December).Demographics of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy based on state-mandated reporting data. The journal of ECT. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7677170/Luccarelli, J., Henry, M. E., & McCoy, T. H. (2020, December).Demographics of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy based on state-mandated reporting data. The journal of ECT. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7677170/Van den Berg J, Kruithof H, Kok R, et al.Electroconvulsive therapy for agitation and aggression in dementia – a systematic review.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry.2018 Apr;26(4):419-434. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2017.09.023Luchini F, Medda P, Mariani MG, Mauri M, Toni C, Perugi G.Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response.World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(2):182-92. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182Grover S, Somani A, Sahni N, et al.Effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Parkinsonian symptoms: A case series.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2018;15(1-2):23-27.Babu GN, Thippeswamy H, Chandra PS.Use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in postpartum psychosis–a naturalistic prospective study.Arch Womens Ment Health. 2013;16(3):247-51. doi:10.1007/s00737-013-0342-2Grover S, Sahoo S, Rabha A, Koirala R.ECT in schizophrenia: a review of the evidence.Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 2019;31(3):115-127. doi:10.1017/neu.2018.32Wang G, Zheng W, Li XB, Wang SB, Cai DB, Yang XH, Ungvari GS, Xiang YT, Correll CU.ECT augmentation of clozapine for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Psychiatr Res. 2018;105:23-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.08.002Salik I, Marwaha R.Electroconvulsive Therapy.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020.Brus O, Cao Y, Gustafsson E, et al.Self-assessed remission rates after electroconvulsive therapy of depressive disorders.Eur Psychiatry. 2017;45:154-160. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.06.015Jelovac A, Kolshus E, Mcloughlin DM.Relapse following successful electroconvulsive therapy for major depression: A meta-analysis.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(12):2467-74. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.149Luchini, F, et al.Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response.World J Psychiatry. 2015; 5(2): 182-192. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182Oji C, Moore T, Gutierrez C.A review of electroconvulsive therapy in suicidality.Mental Health Clinician.2015;5(5):212–215. doi:10.9740/mhc.2015.09.212MedlinePlus.Electroconvulsive therapy.Cleveland Clinic.Electroconvulsive therapy.Cleveland Clinic.Understanding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

18 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Why ECT is becoming a preferred depression treatment | mclean hospital. (n.d.-d). https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/ect-shouldnt-be-last-resort-treatmentThompson JW, Weiner RD, Myers CP.Use of ECT in the United States in 1975, 1980, and 1986.Am J Psychiatry. 1994;151(11):1657-61. doi:10.1176/ajp.151.11.1657Luccarelli, J., Henry, M. E., & McCoy, T. H. (2020, December).Demographics of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy based on state-mandated reporting data. The journal of ECT. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7677170/Luccarelli, J., Henry, M. E., & McCoy, T. H. (2020, December).Demographics of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy based on state-mandated reporting data. The journal of ECT. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7677170/Van den Berg J, Kruithof H, Kok R, et al.Electroconvulsive therapy for agitation and aggression in dementia – a systematic review.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry.2018 Apr;26(4):419-434. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2017.09.023Luchini F, Medda P, Mariani MG, Mauri M, Toni C, Perugi G.Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response.World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(2):182-92. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182Grover S, Somani A, Sahni N, et al.Effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Parkinsonian symptoms: A case series.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2018;15(1-2):23-27.Babu GN, Thippeswamy H, Chandra PS.Use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in postpartum psychosis–a naturalistic prospective study.Arch Womens Ment Health. 2013;16(3):247-51. doi:10.1007/s00737-013-0342-2Grover S, Sahoo S, Rabha A, Koirala R.ECT in schizophrenia: a review of the evidence.Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 2019;31(3):115-127. doi:10.1017/neu.2018.32Wang G, Zheng W, Li XB, Wang SB, Cai DB, Yang XH, Ungvari GS, Xiang YT, Correll CU.ECT augmentation of clozapine for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Psychiatr Res. 2018;105:23-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.08.002Salik I, Marwaha R.Electroconvulsive Therapy.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020.Brus O, Cao Y, Gustafsson E, et al.Self-assessed remission rates after electroconvulsive therapy of depressive disorders.Eur Psychiatry. 2017;45:154-160. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.06.015Jelovac A, Kolshus E, Mcloughlin DM.Relapse following successful electroconvulsive therapy for major depression: A meta-analysis.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(12):2467-74. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.149Luchini, F, et al.Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response.World J Psychiatry. 2015; 5(2): 182-192. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182Oji C, Moore T, Gutierrez C.A review of electroconvulsive therapy in suicidality.Mental Health Clinician.2015;5(5):212–215. doi:10.9740/mhc.2015.09.212MedlinePlus.Electroconvulsive therapy.Cleveland Clinic.Electroconvulsive therapy.Cleveland Clinic.Understanding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Why ECT is becoming a preferred depression treatment | mclean hospital. (n.d.-d). https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/ect-shouldnt-be-last-resort-treatmentThompson JW, Weiner RD, Myers CP.Use of ECT in the United States in 1975, 1980, and 1986.Am J Psychiatry. 1994;151(11):1657-61. doi:10.1176/ajp.151.11.1657Luccarelli, J., Henry, M. E., & McCoy, T. H. (2020, December).Demographics of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy based on state-mandated reporting data. The journal of ECT. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7677170/Luccarelli, J., Henry, M. E., & McCoy, T. H. (2020, December).Demographics of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy based on state-mandated reporting data. The journal of ECT. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7677170/Van den Berg J, Kruithof H, Kok R, et al.Electroconvulsive therapy for agitation and aggression in dementia – a systematic review.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry.2018 Apr;26(4):419-434. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2017.09.023Luchini F, Medda P, Mariani MG, Mauri M, Toni C, Perugi G.Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response.World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(2):182-92. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182Grover S, Somani A, Sahni N, et al.Effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Parkinsonian symptoms: A case series.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2018;15(1-2):23-27.Babu GN, Thippeswamy H, Chandra PS.Use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in postpartum psychosis–a naturalistic prospective study.Arch Womens Ment Health. 2013;16(3):247-51. doi:10.1007/s00737-013-0342-2Grover S, Sahoo S, Rabha A, Koirala R.ECT in schizophrenia: a review of the evidence.Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 2019;31(3):115-127. doi:10.1017/neu.2018.32Wang G, Zheng W, Li XB, Wang SB, Cai DB, Yang XH, Ungvari GS, Xiang YT, Correll CU.ECT augmentation of clozapine for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Psychiatr Res. 2018;105:23-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.08.002Salik I, Marwaha R.Electroconvulsive Therapy.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020.Brus O, Cao Y, Gustafsson E, et al.Self-assessed remission rates after electroconvulsive therapy of depressive disorders.Eur Psychiatry. 2017;45:154-160. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.06.015Jelovac A, Kolshus E, Mcloughlin DM.Relapse following successful electroconvulsive therapy for major depression: A meta-analysis.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(12):2467-74. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.149Luchini, F, et al.Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response.World J Psychiatry. 2015; 5(2): 182-192. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182Oji C, Moore T, Gutierrez C.A review of electroconvulsive therapy in suicidality.Mental Health Clinician.2015;5(5):212–215. doi:10.9740/mhc.2015.09.212MedlinePlus.Electroconvulsive therapy.Cleveland Clinic.Electroconvulsive therapy.Cleveland Clinic.Understanding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Why ECT is becoming a preferred depression treatment | mclean hospital. (n.d.-d). https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/ect-shouldnt-be-last-resort-treatment

Thompson JW, Weiner RD, Myers CP.Use of ECT in the United States in 1975, 1980, and 1986.Am J Psychiatry. 1994;151(11):1657-61. doi:10.1176/ajp.151.11.1657

Luccarelli, J., Henry, M. E., & McCoy, T. H. (2020, December).Demographics of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy based on state-mandated reporting data. The journal of ECT. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7677170/

Van den Berg J, Kruithof H, Kok R, et al.Electroconvulsive therapy for agitation and aggression in dementia – a systematic review.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry.2018 Apr;26(4):419-434. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2017.09.023

Luchini F, Medda P, Mariani MG, Mauri M, Toni C, Perugi G.Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response.World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(2):182-92. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182

Grover S, Somani A, Sahni N, et al.Effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Parkinsonian symptoms: A case series.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2018;15(1-2):23-27.

Babu GN, Thippeswamy H, Chandra PS.Use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in postpartum psychosis–a naturalistic prospective study.Arch Womens Ment Health. 2013;16(3):247-51. doi:10.1007/s00737-013-0342-2

Grover S, Sahoo S, Rabha A, Koirala R.ECT in schizophrenia: a review of the evidence.Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 2019;31(3):115-127. doi:10.1017/neu.2018.32

Wang G, Zheng W, Li XB, Wang SB, Cai DB, Yang XH, Ungvari GS, Xiang YT, Correll CU.ECT augmentation of clozapine for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Psychiatr Res. 2018;105:23-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.08.002

Salik I, Marwaha R.Electroconvulsive Therapy.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020.

Brus O, Cao Y, Gustafsson E, et al.Self-assessed remission rates after electroconvulsive therapy of depressive disorders.Eur Psychiatry. 2017;45:154-160. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.06.015

Jelovac A, Kolshus E, Mcloughlin DM.Relapse following successful electroconvulsive therapy for major depression: A meta-analysis.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(12):2467-74. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.149

Luchini, F, et al.Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response.World J Psychiatry. 2015; 5(2): 182-192. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182

Oji C, Moore T, Gutierrez C.A review of electroconvulsive therapy in suicidality.Mental Health Clinician.2015;5(5):212–215. doi:10.9740/mhc.2015.09.212

MedlinePlus.Electroconvulsive therapy.

Cleveland Clinic.Electroconvulsive therapy.

Cleveland Clinic.Understanding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Hannah Owens, LMSW

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?