Is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) right for me?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is used for severe psychiatric conditions, especially when other treatments have been unsuccessful. ECT is most often considered for:

  • Major depressive disorder: Particularly for those with life-disrupting symptoms who have not responded to medication or therapy.
  • Bipolar disorder: Effective for both manic and depressive episodes when other options fail.
  • Catatonia: Recognized as the first-line treatment for this severe syndrome featuring immobility, mutism, and behavioral abnormalities.
  • Other severe, treatment-resistant mental illnesses: Including some forms of psychosis and urgent psychiatric conditions not responding to therapy.

If your mental health challenges have been resistant to multiple standard treatments, or if your medical condition requires rapid improvement, ECT may be thoughtfully considered as part of your treatment plan.

Psychiatrists may recommend ECT when:
  • Multiple medications and therapies have proven ineffective or intolerable.
  • An urgent intervention is needed—such as in cases of suicidal thoughts, catatonia, or psychosis—where traditional treatments are too slow.
  • Medical circumstances limit the safety or effectiveness of medications.
  • The patient, informed of the risks and benefits, prefers ECT.

A thorough psychiatric and medical assessment is always done to determine if ECT is appropriate.

ECT is part of a comprehensive treatment plan

ECT is typically included as one part of a multifaceted care plan, not as stand-alone treatment. It is most effective when combined with:

  • Ongoing medication management
  • Individual or group psychotherapy
  • Monitoring and support from a mental health team
  • Careful follow-up (sometimes with maintenance ECT) to prevent relapse and promote long-term wellness

Is ECT safe?

Electroconvulsive therapy is FDA-approved and has been extensively studied for decades. It is routinely provided at leading medical centers, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Stanford and UCLA. Your care team carefully monitors you before, during and after treatment to maximize safety. Most side effects are mild and temporary, though in rare cases, more serious issues such as memory loss or heart complications can occur. The decision to proceed is always based on a careful risk-benefit assessment tailored to your needs. Research consistently confirms the long-term safety of ECT when it is delivered in accredited hospitals by trained professionals.

What to expect

Before treatment: Evaluation and consent
  • Comprehensive assessment: You will be evaluated medically and psychiatrically, and tests may be ordered to ensure safety.
  • Informed consent: You’ll discuss the procedure’s benefits and risks and provide written agreement before starting.
  • Anesthesia preparation: ECT requires general anesthesia; fasting is necessary after midnight or for at least six hours prior to minimize complications.
During treatment
  • Controlled medical setting: The procedure is performed in a dedicated hospital suite by an experienced medical team.
  • Asleep and comfortable: Short-acting anesthesia and muscle relaxants are used so you are fully asleep and relaxed.
  • Brief, painless procedure: The ECT treatment itself lasts only 5–10 minutes, and due to anesthesia, you do not feel pain or remember the event.
After treatment
  • Recovery: Nurses monitor your vital signs as you wake up in a recovery area. Most patients are ready for discharge within one to two hours.
  • Common side effects: You may experience mild headache, nausea, muscle stiffness, or confusion; memory for the day of the procedure is often patchy or absent, and these effects usually resolve within hours.
  • Frequency: Most treatment courses involve ECT two to three times per week, with a total of six to twelve sessions (depending on response).