What is the criteria for ECT?

What is the criteria for ECT?

Current ECT Study Patient Criteria 18 to 90 years of age. Diagnosis of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or any other mood disorder, history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, other functional psychosis, or rapid cycling bipolar disorder. ECT indicated. Willing and capable of providing informed …

How often is maintenance ECT?

The ECT taper from an acute series to a maintenance schedule is generally once a week for 4 treatments, then every 2 weeks for 4 treatments, then every 3 weeks for 4 treatments, then every 4 weeks. There is no limit on how long a patient can receive maintenance ECT provided the treatment is effective.

Is ECT a neurostimulation?

Electroconvulsive therapy and neurostimulation is a therapeutic, medical procedure for the treatment of severe psychiatric disorders. It is beneficial for patients with clinical depression who have not responded to other treatments, or for patients with severe and acute presentations of depression.

When is ECT contraindicated?

While there are no absolute contraindications to ECT, several relative contraindications exist. These include recent MI or stroke (generally within the last 30 days), increased intracranial pressure, active bleeding (especially from the central nervous system), retinal detachment, and unstable dentition.

How is rTMS different from ECT?

The ECT procedure has more side effects than the rTMS. The ECT treatment is fully covered by the HMO’s health care system, whereas the rTMS treatment requires the patient to pay. The hospital earns 2.5 times more from the ECT than from the rTMS, due to expenses and patient fees.

Is TMS as good as ECT?

Success rates / patient responses – One study found that ECT was slightly more effective than TMS but that patients prefered TMS over ECT. Side effects – ECT patients report more significant side effects. TMS patients report minor and short-lived side effects.

What should you assess first after ECT?

When possible, cognitive assessment shall be performed at least 24 hours after an ECT treatment. The presence and severity of disorientation, anterograde amnesia, and retrograde amnesia shall be monitored in terms of both objective findings and self-report.

What does the RANZCP say about ECT?

The RANZCP acknowledges that ECT treatments may have been used inappropriately in the past and is committed to learning from these past practices in order to provide the most effective care now and in the future (RANZCP, 2016). When is ECT used?

What are the laws governing ECT in New Zealand?

Legislation governing ECT use varies widely between different states, territories and New Zealand (RANZCP, 2017a; RANZCP, 2017b, RANZCP 2017c). Legislative restrictions of ECT can reduce access to this treatment for some of the most severely ill and disabled people (Clarke, 2018).

What are key practice considerations for electroconvulsive therapy?

Key practice considerations are: the combination of dosing, electrode placement, pulse width, session frequency, concomitant medication and anaesthetic approach. Specific considerations are required when using ECT in the treatment of children and adolescents, pregnant women, and people with comorbid medical issues.

How safe is ECT therapy?

In general, ECT is one of the best-tolerated biological therapies with low risk for severe complications, and is considered to be one of the safest medical procedures under anesthesia (Baghai and Moller, 2008).