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ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY
 

Like all medical procedures the application of ECT has been improved
greatly with new, refined equipment and better techniques.

 

ECT at the Marian Centre:

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) asserts that making clinical decisions based on best evidence, either from the research literature or clinical expertise, improves the quality of care and the patient's quality of life.

DoctorsDr Jaroslaw Hryniewicki
Director of
the ECT program
For many, ECT therapy has been significantly stigmatized by its portrayal in movies and literature. These perceptions relate to the community’s uncertainties about its use and its process. Since its invention in the late 30’s of the twentieth century, ECT has been a life saving procedure for many patients suffering from severe psychiatric problems. It is an extremely useful treatment method without which psychiatry would be deficient in delivering the most effective therapy for many of its patients. Further technological advances and increasingly refined technical aspects of this treatment has dramatically improved is effectiveness, safety and, as a result of that, patients’ acceptability. Different electrode placements, precise dosing of the treatment, shortening of the treatment stimulus and advances in anaesthetic procedures significantly improved the therapy process. Continued improvements have reduced side effects, particularly in relation to the negative impact of ECT on cognitive functioning. In the recent decade we have observed a revival of this procedure and broader recognition of its effectiveness and safety profile.

Some reasons for your Psychiatrist to recommend ECT are:

  • You have not responded to or improved with other treatment such as medications, group
    therapy
  • You can not tolerate the side effects of medications
  • The side effects of the medications out weigh the side effects of the ECT
  • You have responded well to ECT in the past
  • You have requested ECT yourself
  • You may get better more quickly if a combination of treatments is used; e.g. ECT and /or
    medication and /or group/ individual therapy.experiencing chronic depression or anxiety.

Your Psychiatrist will explain to you why ECT has been recommended for your specific illness. You and your Dr may have already discussed other treatment options; if not you should ask your Psychiatrist to discuss the alternative treatments with you.

Consent to Treatment

We all have the right to exercise control over our bodies, we have the right to say who touches us and what procedures we will and will not have, once you have been given the information you need in order to make what is referred to as "an informed decision". Your treating psychiatrist is responsible for making sure you have all the in formation you need to make a decision. You will be given the information you need in several formats; these are, verbally with your Psychiatrist or his or her delegate, the nursing staff, written information and DVD's. You have the right to be given adequate time to make you decision. The Marian Centre stipulates a minimum of 48 hours or longer if you need the time. No one has the right to coheres you into making a decision;

  • You have the right to a 2nd opinion.
  • You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
  • You have the right to undergo alternative treatment.

Please remember it is the responsibility of your treating psychiatrist to provide you with the
information and education. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like and don’t be
embarrassed to ask again.

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