Electroconvulsive therapy a therapeutic choice in psychiatry
Antonia Stergiopoulou
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Publication year:
2015
Author:
- Stergiopoulou Antonia, Registered Nurse, Phd University Psychiatric Hospital ‘Aiginitio’ Athens
Keywords index:
Pages: 3-9
Abstract:
Introduction:Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is brain stimulation with a short controlled series of electrical pulses which are co-administered with intravenous anesthesia.
Aim: Evaluation of electroconvulsive effect as a first and second choice treatment.
Methods: A literature search was made in the data base Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials for the years 1989 to 2014, concerning newest aspects and reports of ECT using key words such as "ect guidelines”, "ect therapy” "ect treatment”. Specifically 32 studies were selected and analyzed, which concerned ECT effect as a first and second choice treatment
Results: Data analysis showed the need of electroconvulsive therapy as a first choice treatment in cases of urgent need and as a second choice treatment as a co-therapy along with the pharmacotherapy. The main contraindications of ECT appliance are various heart and neurological diseases while nurse’s role remains extremely important to the best continuation of treatment.
Conclusion : Bipolar ECT treatment is sometimes a salvation treatment when pharmacotherapy has failed and when psychiatric illness is life-threatening.
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