The information on this website is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your physician for health concerns.

+90 850 321 50 00

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Highly effective treatment for severe depression, mania, and catatonia

Written by: Saygı Hospital Health Guide Editorial Board
Last updated:

This content has been compiled by the Saygı Hospital Health Guide Editorial Board and is periodically reviewed by a specialist physician.

References (5)

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. You can book an appointment at our Psikiyatri department. Book Appointment →

What is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) delivers a brief electrical stimulus to the brain under general anesthesia and muscle relaxation to induce a controlled generalized seizure. It is one of the most effective treatments in psychiatry, with response rates around eighty percent in major depression with melancholic features and similarly high responses in mania and catatonia.

Indications include treatment-resistant depression, severe suicidality, severe psychotic depression, catatonia, life-threatening mania, and selected cases in pregnancy where medications are problematic. ECT is the treatment of choice in catatonia unresponsive to benzodiazepines and in pregnancy-related severe depression with psychosis or suicidality.

A typical acute course is six to twelve sessions over two to four weeks. Modern ECT uses brief-pulse currents and right unilateral or bitemporal placement to balance efficacy and cognitive side effects. The most common side effects are transient memory disturbance and headache. Maintenance ECT every one to four weeks is sometimes needed to prevent relapse.

Symptoms

Severe depression with food refusal, mutism, or stupor
Persistent suicidality despite medication
Catatonia (immobility, posturing, mutism, waxy flexibility)
Severe mania with exhaustion or psychosis
Severe perinatal depression with safety concerns

Risk Factors

Treatment-resistant depression
Prior good response to ECT
Severe melancholic or psychotic features
Catatonia or neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Pregnancy with severe psychiatric illness

When to See a Doctor?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention promptly:

  • Severe depression unresponsive to two or more medications
  • Active suicidal intent
  • Catatonic features or rigid immobility
  • Severe agitation requiring frequent restraint or sedation

Treatment Methods

01
Multidisciplinary evaluation (psychiatry, anesthesia, internal medicine)
02
Brief-pulse ECT under general anesthesia and muscle relaxation
03
Right unilateral electrode placement first, switch to bitemporal if needed
04
Six to twelve sessions in an acute course, two to three times weekly
05
Continuation pharmacotherapy after acute response
06
Maintenance ECT for selected high-relapse-risk patients
07
Cognitive monitoring at baseline and at follow-up

Which Department to Visit?

You can visit our Psikiyatri department for these complaints. Our specialist physicians will create the most suitable treatment plan for you.

Learn About Psikiyatri Department

Let us help you

You can make an appointment with our specialists or contact us for your concerns.

Book AppointmentContact Us

Related Health Topics

Other articles from the same department you may want to explore.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Psikiyatri

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, difficult-to-control worry most days for at least six months, accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle tension, fatigue, and sleep disturbance that impair daily functioning.

Psychiatric Insomnia and Sleep Disorders

Psikiyatri

Effects of depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders on sleep and their treatment.

Depression

Psikiyatri

What is depression, how does it differ from sadness, and how is it treated?

Anxiety Disorder

Psikiyatri

What is anxiety disorder, how does it differ from normal worry, and how is it overcome?

Panic Attack

Psikiyatri

What is a panic attack, how is this condition — often confused with a heart attack — managed and prevented?

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Psikiyatri

What is OCD, how are intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors treated?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Psikiyatri

What is PTSD, how are flashbacks and hyperarousal after trauma treated?

Bipolar Disorder

Psikiyatri

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania or hypomania alternating with depressive episodes; accurate diagnosis and long-term treatment with mood stabilizers are essential to reduce relapses and improve functioning.

Health Disclaimer: The information on this page is prepared for general informational purposes only. It does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment. Please consult your physician for your complaints. Saygı Hospital does not accept responsibility for actions taken based on the information on this page.