A controversial psychiatric treatment in which anesthetized patients receive electrically induced seizures. ECT has proven effective in clinical studies for treating severe depression; it is also used to treat other disorders such as schizophrenia and mania.
Example: A patient whose severe depression has not responded well to medication opts to receive ECT treatment as a last resort. After waking up from the anesthesia, he experiences headache and memory loss for a few hours, but once his head clears his depressive symptoms are markedly reduced.
To read all procedures, symptoms etc associated with ETC, please visit the MayoClinic online: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/electroconvulsive-therapy/MY00129
Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 6 Aug 2010
