Two Basic Shock Treatments For Severe Depression

Electroconvulsive therapy or ECT is a psychiatric treatment, which electrically induces seizures for therapeutic effect in anesthetized patients. The other formerly used term for ECT is electroshock. As considered today, ECT is the best treatment suggested to patients, who are suffering from severe depression. ECT also proves helpful in treating catatonia and mania. However, ECT differs in terms of uses in three different ways such as frequency of treatments, electrode placements and the electrical waveform of the stimulus. These three different ways of applications possess their own adverse as well as positive results.

Another shock treatment for depression that you may know is TMS or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This is a noninvasive method used for causing hyperpolarization or depolarization in the neurons of brain. This method uses electromagnetic induction for stimulating weak electric currents by using fast changing magnetic field. This process results into the stimulation and causes activity in general or specific parts of the brain. It also helps study the interconnections and the functioning of the brain. Right from the 20th century, the theory of inductive brain stimulation using eddy currents has come to notice and Anthony Barker along with his colleagues did the first successful study on TMS in 1985 at Sheffield, England. The earliest applications revealed that the conduction of nerve impulses range to the spinal cord from the motor cortex and the stimulation of muscle contractions. In spite of supplying direct electric current to the brain, the appliance magnets reduced the research and procedural discomfort and thus allowed clear mapping of cerebral vortex along with its connections.

However, majority of the experts disagree with ECT as a primary treatment. They first allot the basic treatments and if the condition of the patient remains the same with no improvements, they thus follow up on ECT. Some of the guidelines include and recommend certain psychotherapy treatments or congenital behavioral therapy before commencing with the Electroconvulsive Therapy. ECT does not have a wide range of benefits. Its effects noticeably diminish within the period of six months. It is thus similar to the relapse time when you discontinue any antidepressant medication or drug.

However, in some cases, ECT has proven to provide effective results by treating severe depression. Since TMS is not so powerful as compared to ECT, simultaneous treatments to TMS such as the hypnosis or/and neuro-feedback prove to provide a boost to the healing power of TMS. Although on a detailed comparison, TMS is safer as compared to ECT. This is because TMS does not require sedation.

You surely may have many more questions related to shock treatment for depression. Therefore, the best places to know more about the applications, effectiveness and benefits of shock treatment for depression are Internet and your doctor.

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