McLean ECT fact sheet 3 9-24-12.indd - McLean Hospital
McLean ECT fact sheet 3 9-24-12.indd - McLean Hospital
McLean ECT fact sheet 3 9-24-12.indd - McLean Hospital
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Electroconvulsive Therapy (<strong>ECT</strong>) Service<br />
We partner with our<br />
patients and their families<br />
to improve their lives by<br />
providing individualized<br />
and specialized care;<br />
informed by research and<br />
delivered by expert and<br />
compassionate caregivers.<br />
LEADERSHIP<br />
Stephen Seiner, MD<br />
Director<br />
<strong>McLean</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> is a leading specialty center<br />
for Electroconvulsive Therapy (<strong>ECT</strong>) and has<br />
been performing <strong>ECT</strong> procedures for more<br />
than 70 years. <strong>ECT</strong> is reserved for patients<br />
who have not responded to medication,<br />
are experiencing excessive side effects<br />
from medication or are severely depressed,<br />
manic, catatonic, or suffering from psychotic<br />
disorders. Approximately seventy to eighty<br />
percent of patients treated with <strong>ECT</strong> respond<br />
positively and experience relief from their<br />
symptoms more rapidly than with other<br />
therapies.<br />
WHAT OCCURS DURING <strong>ECT</strong>?<br />
<strong>ECT</strong> is a procedure done under brief general<br />
anesthesia and with muscle relaxation. Under<br />
anesthesia, a small amount of electrical<br />
current is used to stimulate the brain. This<br />
produces a controlled seizure that changes<br />
the chemical activity of the brain. Some of the<br />
therapeutic changes are similar to those seen<br />
with certain antidepressant medications while<br />
some are unique to <strong>ECT</strong>. The medications<br />
used for anesthesia and muscle relaxation<br />
prevent injury and patients feel no discomfort<br />
during the procedure.<br />
ARE THERE RISKS TO <strong>ECT</strong>?<br />
Like any medical procedure, <strong>ECT</strong> poses<br />
some risk. To minimize the risk, every<br />
patient has a medical clearance, including<br />
a physical examination, blood tests, and an<br />
electrocardiogram (EKG) before undergoing<br />
the procedure. The physical examination is<br />
performed at <strong>McLean</strong> by a clinician from the<br />
Internal Medicine Department.<br />
POTENTIAL SIDE EFF<strong>ECT</strong>S<br />
Most people who have treatments report very<br />
few side effects though possible side effects<br />
include headache, muscle pain, memory, and<br />
cognitive problems and rarely, nausea and<br />
vomiting. The great majority of patients will<br />
have only minor problems with memory,<br />
mostly for events around the time of the<br />
<strong>ECT</strong> treatment, and some will experience<br />
no difficulties at all. A small percentage will<br />
have more significant memory loss that may<br />
require stopping or adjusting treatments.<br />
While these problems usually improve over<br />
time, there is no way to predict their extent.<br />
The psychiatrist will discuss this potential side<br />
effect in greater detail during consultation.<br />
<strong>ECT</strong> AT MCLEAN HOSPITAL<br />
Most patients will have between eight and<br />
twelve treatments over a period of threeto-four<br />
weeks. If the patient responds well<br />
with significant relief of symptoms, he or she<br />
may be able to transition to continuation<br />
or maintenance <strong>ECT</strong>. The psychiatrist<br />
and patient will decide together how many<br />
treatments are needed.<br />
Patients may have an entire series of<br />
treatments on an inpatient or outpatient<br />
basis. Some patients may start as an inpatient<br />
and then transition to outpatient. The<br />
outpatient service allows patients to be<br />
treated and on their way home within three<br />
hours.<br />
115 Mill Street<br />
Belmont, MA 0<strong>24</strong>78-1064<br />
800.333.0338<br />
www.mcleanhospital.org<br />
<strong>McLean</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> is a member of Partners HealthCare.
STAFF<br />
A highly qualified staff of psychiatrists and<br />
registered nurses, along with anesthesia<br />
experts from Massachusetts General <strong>Hospital</strong>,<br />
have extensive experience administering<br />
<strong>ECT</strong> and caring for patients who undergo the<br />
procedure. Our staff model allows patients to<br />
have their own nurse throughout the treatment<br />
and recovery period.<br />
INSURANCE INFORMATION<br />
<strong>McLean</strong> accepts Medicare, Massachusetts<br />
Medicaid, and many private insurance and<br />
managed care plans.<br />
CONTACT<br />
For further information or a referral for<br />
consultation, please call 617.855.2355. An<br />
initial consultation with one of <strong>McLean</strong><br />
<strong>Hospital</strong>’s <strong>ECT</strong> psychiatrists offers individuals<br />
an opportunity to receive information about<br />
the procedure.<br />
MCLEAN HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIC<br />
NEUROTHERAPEUTICS PROGRAM<br />
<strong>ECT</strong> is part of <strong>McLean</strong>’s Psychiatric<br />
Neurotherapeutics Program (PNP), which<br />
also offers transcranial magnetic stimulation<br />
(TMS) - another effective intervention for<br />
treatment-resistant depression. The PNP,<br />
with components in clinical care, research<br />
and education, is dedicated to improving the<br />
quality of life for individuals with a broad<br />
range of psychiatric illnesses. Its collaborative<br />
team approach is aimed at maximizing the<br />
effectiveness of psychotherapy, medication<br />
management, and psychosocial treatments<br />
already offered at <strong>McLean</strong>, along with emerging<br />
techniques, technologies and interventions.
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