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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffBecause it can provide significant improvements in symptoms more quickly than psychotherapy or medications, electroconvulsive therapy may be the best treatment option for some people. ECT may help prevent suicide in people who are severely depressed, for instance. It may be tried when medications aren't tolerated or other forms of therapy haven't proved effective. And it may be used to end an episode of severe mania.
ECT is most commonly recommended for people with:
- Severe depression, accompanied by psychosis, suicidal intent or refusal to eat
- Mania that hasn't improved with medications
- Schizophrenia, when symptoms are severe or medications aren't sufficient
Deciding whether electroconvulsive therapy is a good option for you or a loved one can be extremely difficult. Should electroconvulsive therapy be your first treatment choice? Or should it only be a last resort? Will it cause lasting side effects? It's not a decision to make lightly. But understanding more about the potential benefits and risks of electronconvulsive therapy can help in your decision.
