A 28-year-old member asked:
Are there risks of electroconvulsive therapy?
6 doctor answers • 17 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Foxanswered
Psychiatry 16 years experience
Several risks: Anesthesia carries a risk including allergy and cardiac arrest but no more so than any other procedure. Ect risks include headache, short term disorientation, and memory impairment. This may be mitigated by electrode placement. Right unilateral has very little memory impairment & recovery is quicker. Some degree of memory loss is common with bilateral placement & may be significant.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Edward Smithanswered
Neurology 56 years experience
Yes: Although electroconvulsive therapy is generally performed under general anesthetic, the brain may still be damaged. In fact memory loss is a common side-effect. Other cognitive changes may occur.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ernest Bordinianswered
Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology 34 years experience
Yes -memory loss: In addition to the anesthesia risk, there is risk of memory loss some of which may clear with time, but for a small percentage of patients my actually deteriorate after some early recovery. Since many centers do right-sided memory loss, the spatial memory difficulties can be harder to notice - and many more difficulties are noted on neuropsychological than basic neuro testing. Results vary.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Alan Alianswered
Psychiatry 34 years experience
ECT: Some are confusion, memory loss & physical such as nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle spasms, increase heart rate/blood pressure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Lawrence Smithanswered
Clinical Psychology 32 years experience
There are a few : The most common risks or side effects that could occur with ECT are headache, upset stomach, and muscle aches. Some people may also experience minor memory problems, especially of events or new learning that took place around the time of the treatment (or just after it). These difficulties are usually brief. Etc has been shown to be quite effective in treating severe depression and other symptoms.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Alan Alianswered
Psychiatry 34 years experience
ECT: Some are confusion, memory loss & physical such as nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle spasms, increase heart rate/blood pressure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
What is electroconvulsive therapy?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ankush Bansalanswered
Internal Medicine 16 years experience
Resetting brain: Ect is a controlled therapy in which electrical shocks are introduced into both temples to "reset' the brain. A brief seizure is induced to reset the brain. The hope is that the neurotransmitters in the brain will be released in the right ratios to "fix" depression.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 5, 2017
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