FACTS ABOUT ECT

Using ECT should only be considered in severe or urgent cases, usually when other forms or treatment have not worked.

• It may be life-saving in some cases
• treatment may have short term effect only, with other treatments being needed to keep up the improvement
• No-one knows exactly how it works
• There can be memory loss as a result of the treatment both in the short term and sometimes in the long term
• ECT is given under full general anaesthetic