Electroconvulsive Therapy

For those that have severe bipolar disorder, medications and psychotherapy may not be enough to provide them with the relief that they need. Electroconvulsive therapy is another option that is available to you. You’ll hear it called ECT more often.

Those that have electroconvulsive therapy generally have not responded well from the medications that have been used to help them. In addition, they generally have very severe depression in which suicidal thoughts are common. In cases where suicidal tendencies are seen, it can be important to seek additional treatment.

In electroconvulsive therapy, your doctor will use electrodes placed on your head to start the treatment. Your doctor will also give you a muscle relaxer during the treatment. When this is done, you’ll be given anesthesia and you’ll feel nothing.

Once this is done, the electrodes will admit a very small amount of electrical current. As the current passes through your brain, your brain will actually have a seizure. While in normal circumstances, a brain seizure can be very severe and very traumatic, that doesn’t happen here.