Electroconvulsive therapy: a review of history, patient selection, technique, and medication management.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for severe and persistent depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Though ECT is now over 60 years old, it remains an underutilized treatment today. History, patient selection, safety, and characteristics of the treatment stimulus, technique, and medications used in ECT are reviewed. Dosing strategies, as pertaining to seizure threshold, will be considered. Mechanisms of action, especially with regard to serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine receptor expression will be discussed.
Taylor
Stephen
S
Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, 501 E Broadway, Med Center 1, Suite 340, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. mmst@insightbb.com
D018681:Anesthetics, General; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018681:Anesthetics, General