Question

write an essay about why electric shock in psych. is allow

Answer 1

ESSAY ON ELECTRIC SHOCK IN PSYCHIATRY

INTRODUCTION

Mental illness means changes occuring in thinking process, emotions or combination of both in human life.It can affect any one at anytime regardless of age, gender,colour, religion ,income, socio economic status.Mental illness ranges from mild to severe form.Severe form of mental illness(depresssion,schizophrenia, bipolar disorders) requries treatment.Management measures include medications, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy(ECT).Now a days this eletric shock in psychiatry is called as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).It was developed in Italy in 1938.

DEFINITION OF ECT

It is a medical treatment for patients with severe mental illness with the help of electric shocks where other forms of treatment fails.

HOW IT WORKS

In this treatment doctors use special equipment to pass mild electrical energy to patients head for few seconds. This currrent passes through the brain causes seizures which lasts for a minute. This helps to change the brain chemistry and produce partial or complete reversal of poor mental states.Benefits often seen within in 1 week of commencement of ECT.

TYPES OF ECT

1. Unilateral ECT-Electrodes are placed at the top of the head

2. Bilateral ECT-Electrodes are placed at both the sides of the head

PROCEDURE

Wear loose cloth

Remove all cosmetics, artifical dentures etc

Keep NPO for 6 hours and give it in the morning

Administer muscle relaxant

Perform under general anesthesia

Place the teeth guard to prevent the tounge bite during seizure

Place the electrodes on the scalp

Apply the controlled electric current

COMMON INDICATIONS

1. Severe depression

2. Schizophrenia

3. Bipolar disorders

4. Mania

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS

1. Confusion- result of general anesthesia

2. Memory loss- Due to anesthesia

3.Headache and nausea- may be due to seizure activity or due to anesthesia

4.Jaw aches -due to seizure teeth injury can happen

5. Muscle aches- due to seizure

HOW OFTEN

Weekly twice or thirce for 3-6 weeks

ADVANTAGES OF ECT

Quick relief from the symptoms

Can be used in pregnancy as well as heart diseases

WHY ECT IS PREFERRED

Research shows that patient who receives ECT weekly 3 times for about 3-4 weeks have no symptoms or they have much less severe symptoms for months to years.ECT can be given not only to the adults patients but also to the children and teenagers with severe symptoms.But still the use of ECT is controversied due to the effectiveness vs side effects.

SUMMARY

Before the treatment discuss all the possible options with patient and family members. When ECT is selected as the treatment plan patient should be given complete medical examination.The patient and family members should be educated and informed about the procedure and should get the informed consent.