Enhancing Access to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): A Proven Intervention for Mood and Thought Disorders

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been increasingly recognized as a proven, effective, and even life-saving intervention in certain mood and thought disorders when other treatments have had little or no effect. However, its availability remains variable due to misconceptions about the treatment and its potential adverse effects. As a result, adequate education and training of psychiatrists and their support staff are essential to ensuring patients’ access to this vital treatment tool.

The Importance of Education and Training in ECT

The authors of Clinical Manual of Electroconvulsive Therapy have compiled an expansive yet reader-friendly volume to help psychiatrists successfully incorporate ECT into their clinical practices. This comprehensive manual is a valuable resource for medical students, psychiatric residents, experienced clinicians, and researchers, providing a scheduled approach to understanding the fundamental concepts of ECT while offering practical guidance for establishing and maintaining an ECT program.

Comprehensive Coverage of ECT Topics

This updated manual covers a wide range of topics, including:

• The history of ECT
• Indications for use, including mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and mania, and thought disorders including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder
• Patient referral and evaluation
• The basics of ECT
• Clinical applications
• Anesthetics and other medications
• Seizure monitoring and management
• Ictal motor and cardiovascular response
• Adverse effects, including cognitive changes and cardiovascular complications
• Maintenance ECT

Recent Advances in ECT

The manual also provides detailed descriptions of recent advances, including:

• Ultra-brief pulse ECT
• Oxygenation
• Muscle relaxation
• Other modifications that have made this very effective treatment much safer and more acceptable to patients

It’s estimated that over 100,000 people receive ECT treatments each year in the U.S. With its comprehensive coverage and practical guidance, this manual is a must-have for any clinician interested in or currently practicing ECT.

Additional Resources

This manual also includes:

• Background information on the origins of psychiatric treatments preceding ECT, including efforts using hydrotherapy and insulin comas
• An algorithm for the management of ECT seizure adequacy
• Specific information about ECT device manufacturers
• Reprintable patient information sheets
• A written informed consent form

This clinical manual provides a comprehensive exploration of the available knowledge regarding ECT, based on extensive research over the past 70 years, to help potential ECT clinicians make informed choices about the development and management of their ECT program.