What is Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a treatment option for adults, ages 18 and older, who suffer from severe episodes of major depression, persistent suicidal ideation, mania, and some types of schizophrenia. It has been proven to be a life-saving adjunct to medication and psychotherapy. ECT is also particularly excellent at improving psychosis and has been determined to be a true mood stabilizer in medicine.

Centennial Peaks Hospital offers ECT on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The procedure is administered at our facility under the supervision of a psychiatrist, anesthesiologist, and an ECT nursing team. ECT is a tested treatment for clients suffering from Depression, Bipolar disorder, or Schizophrenia.

All patient referrals to the ECT program must be medically cleared by a professional before the initial consultation with our staff. During the consultation, our staff will explain the details of the procedure and what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. We encourage all professionals to call our Intake Department with any referrals to our programs. Our ECT staff will follow up on all ECT inquiries.

ECT REFERRAL CHECKLIST

To help determine if ECT is an appropriate for you, please share the following information with our staff:

• A brief history of present illness & symptoms
• Specific goals for ECT treatment
• Past psychiatric/substance abuse history
• Medical history
• Allergies
• Previous medication trials
• Current medications
• Mental status exam results
• Patient’s assets & strengths
• Pertinent lab work results
• Signature of referring psychiatrist

There are risks associated with any treatment procedure and individual results may vary. The most common side effects of ECT include muscle aches, nausea, short-term memory loss and headaches. Please consult the dedicated professionals within the ECT program at Centennial Peaks Hospital to assess if you are a candidate for ECT treatment.  Our Medical Staff will also consult with you on the risks and benefits of ECT treatment if you are a suitable candidate. A complete inpatient and outpatient ECT referral form will be provided by our ECT staff.

Treatment Resistance is more common than you think – but there are options:

Based on multiple studies, including the STAR-D trials, it is clear around 20% of patients will have treatment-resistant illness.  Many of these patients will already have had 2 or more discrete trials of psychiatric medication(s).  The likelihood of having a response (feeling at least 50% better) or remission (feeling completely 100% better) with a third or more medication trial is very low compared to a trial of ECT or TMS.  ECT can have remission rates, even in folks who have tried many medications, of 70%!  TMS can have response rates of 70% (and remission rates between 40% and 50% depending on the illness treated and medication history).  These response and remission rates are four to seven times higher than another medication trial.

Please take the below screen to see if you would qualify for Treatment-Resistant Services: