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ALL / Psychiatry

Electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy is a useful treatment option for patients with severe depression refractory to medication (e.g. catatonia) those with psychotic symptoms. The only absolute contraindications is raised intracranial pressure.

Short-term side-effects
  • headache
  • nausea
  • short term memory impairment
  • memory loss of events prior to ECT
  • cardiac arrhythmia

Long-term side-effects
  • some patients report impaired memory
+PassMedicine Notes

Electroconvulsive therapy is a useful treatment option for patients with severe depression refractory to medication (e.g. catatonia) those with psychotic symptoms. The only absolute contraindications is raised intracranial pressure.

Short-term side-effects
  • headache
  • nausea
  • short term memory impairment
  • memory loss of events prior to ECT
  • cardiac arrhythmia
Long-term side-effects
  • some patients report impaired memory


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