Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy provides electrical stimulation to your brain while you are under anesthesia in an effort to affect your brain chemistry and its influences on your mental health. It may require a number of treatments to be successful, but is very effective for many people.
Electroconvulsive therapy in Dallas, Texas
For those who have experienced unresponsiveness to traditional therapy and medication management, Medical City Green Oaks offers Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), which has been proven to be a safe and effective form of treatment.
Today, ECT remains the gold standard of treatment for severe, medication-resistant depression as recent advances in technology have improved the safety and tolerability of the procedure.
Electroconvulsive therapy offers inpatient/outpatient services
Before considering ECT, a full evaluation to assess your general health and suitability for the procedure is required. This helps ensure that ECT is safe for you. The evaluation usually includes:
- A medical history
- A complete physical exam
- A psychiatric assessment
- Basic blood tests
- An electrocardiogram (ECG) and chest X-ray to check your heart and lung health
- Anesthesiologist review
What is electroconvulsive therapy ECT?
Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is a medical procedure performed under anesthesia by a board-certified anesthesiologist. It involves a small, measured electrical impulse that travels through the brain. This electrical impulse induces a well-controlled seizure, causing other changes in the brain that can help patients get better.
ECT can be effective for:
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Other mental health conditions
“ECT is among the safest treatments that we have,” says Ronnie Pollard, MD. “It is also one of the most effective treatments we have. ECT has been studied for over 75 years. And here at Medical City Green Oaks, we have been doing it safely and effectively for more than 25 years.”
“ECT is one of the most effective treatments we have in psychiatry,” Dr. Pollard says. “While our psychiatric medications are only 50 to 60 percent effective, ECT can be more than 80 percent effective.”
ECT is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.