Depression Treatment Quiz

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Other Treatments for Depression

• ECT typically involves 6 to 15 treatments scheduled three times a week, with a minimum of six treatments necessary for sustained improvement in depressive symptoms.
• Preparation for ECT is similar to that for outpatient minor surgical procedures, including nothing by mouth after midnight and the administration of medication via an intravenous line.
• During ECT, the client receives an anesthetic to prevent awareness, a muscle relaxant to minimize outward signs of the seizure, and electrical stimulation to induce brain seizure activity monitored by an EEG.
• ECT can result in mild confusion, disorientation, tiredness, headaches, and short-term memory impairment, with unilateral ECT causing less memory loss but potentially requiring more treatments for sustained improvement.
• Studies have conflicting findings on the effectiveness of ECT compared to medication for depression and the duration of memory loss side effects.
• Maintenance ECT may be used for relapse prevention in depression, with clients possibly receiving treatments monthly to maintain mood improvement.
• A combination of psychotherapy and medications is considered the most effective treatment for depressive disorders in both children and adults, with the goals of symptom remission, psychosocial restoration, and relapse prevention.
• Interpersonal therapy focuses on relationship difficulties, while behavior therapy aims to increase positive interactions and decrease negative ones, and cognitive therapy addresses distorted thinking patterns.
• Other treatments for depression being tested include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), magnetic seizure therapy, deep brain stimulation, and vagal nerve stimulation.
• TMS is an FDA-approved treatment for major depression, proven safe and effective when used as an adjunct to antidepressant medications or alone for mild or moderate depression.