Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
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Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) treats severe depression and other psychiatric conditions by producing a controlled therapeutic seizure while the individual is asleep.
ECT is often used to treat severe depression and other psychiatric conditions when immediate relief of symptoms is needed or when other treatments have not worked.
What to expect
Contemporary ECT is a safe and effective medical procedure involving the production of a controlled therapeutic seizure while the individual is asleep. This is achieved by sending brief electrical impulses through the skull into the brain via electrodes. The procedure lasts about twenty minutes and is generally well tolerated.
Benefits
ECT is often used to treat severe depression and other psychiatric conditions when immediate relief of symptoms is needed or when other treatments have not worked.
Resources
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ECT Booklet
Information on ECT, including how to prepare for your treatment, common side effects and follow up.
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ECT Discharge Instructions (English)
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ECT Discharge Instruction (French)
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ECT Discharge Instructions (Punjabi)
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ECT Discharge Instructions (Simplified Chinese)
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ECT Discharge Instructions (Traditional Chinese)
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ECT Referral Form
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ECT Outpatient Information
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Electroconvulsive Therapy
Canadian Electroconvulsive Therapy Survey and Canadian Electroconvulsive Therapy Standards (Available in English, French, Punjabi, and Cantonese)
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Videos of ECT Procedure
International Society for ECT and Neurostimulation
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ECT 101
Resources for patients, families, nursing students and interns.
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Find this service near you
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Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)
899 West 12th Avenue Vancouver