An Overview of Electroconvulsive Therapy By Ahmed Abouesh, MD When medication or traditional therapy fails, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may prove

beneficial for treatment of certain mental illnesses and mood disorders. For more than 70 years, medical professionals have refined this form of therapy from its initial controversial applications to today's safer and more controlled methods. ECT utilizes electricity to affect brain chemistry, causing changes that may benefit the patients condition. General anesthesia is administered before undergoing ECT; while the patient is asleep, electricity is applied to the scalp, inducing a small seizure within the brain. ECT can be applied in mere minutes, and patients report few side effects upon awaking. For more information about ECT, or to inquire about whether this treatment is appropriate for a specific illness, visit a local medical professional. About the Author: For more than a decade, Ahmed Abouesh, MD, has contributed his skills to the medical community as a behavioral therapist. His private practice in Chico, California, Therapeutic Solutions, administers ECT and other therapeutic treatments for mental illnesses, mood disorders, and chemical dependency.