Who makes ECT?

Who makes ECT?

Somatics, LLC – Manufacturer of the Thymatron ECT Machine. In 1938 the first patient ever to receive ECT made a full recovery. Now, over 90 years later, ECT remains an established treatment for severe depression.

What is shock therapy for depression?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used in patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder that has not responded to other treatments. ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia.

How does ECT work?

Overview. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions.

When was ECT first used?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used to treat patients with certain types of mental illness, including severe depression, severe mania, and catatonia. It was first developed in the late 1930s, with the first recorded treatments at McLean Hospital taking place in 1941.

Is electroshock therapy legal?

2 health professionals have to agree that you should have ECT if you lack mental capacity to consent to treatment whilst under the Mental Health Act. You can make an advance decision to refuse ECT in the future. An advanced decision is legally binding.

Is shock therapy still used?

But electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is still being used — more in Europe than the United States — and it may be the most effective short-term treatment for some patients with depressive symptoms, a newly published review in the journal The Lancet suggests.

Does ECT increase dopamine?

Thus, ECT alters serotoninergic transmission considered as a characteristic of major depression as well as some receptor functions in noradrenergic and dopamnergic neurons decrease, resulting in an increase in the release of noradrenaline, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters (Ishihara et al, 1999).

When was electroshock therapy banned in the US?

It finally banned the devices on March 6, 2020, stating “they present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury.” The ban applies to a category of “electrical stimulation devices used for self-injurious or aggressive behavior,” but, the agency noted, only one facility in the country uses such devices — …

What states still use shock therapy?

There were 6 states without any laws pertaining to ECT. California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas were noted to be the most regulatory on ECT. Conclusions: There are no US national laws on ECT leaving individual state governments to regulate treatment.