A treatment for severe or recurring depression in which a mild electrical current discharged into the brain disrupts the brain’s natural electrophysiological functions. This disruption also causes muscle contractions throughout the body (convulsions). A psychiatrist or neurologist performs ECT under carefully controlled circumstances, usually in a hospital setting. The person receives sedation and muscle relaxants as well as oxygen to make sure the brain has adequate oxygenation during the procedure. The electrical current affects numerous neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, and norepinephrine.
ECT is particularly effective in relieving depression related to Parkinson’s disease and at the same time greatly reduces rigidity and dystonia to improve muscle control and function. Why this happens is not clear, but scientists believe it is related to ECT’s effects on dopamine. ECT is presently an investigational treatment for motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease that do not respond to medications. EcT carries many risks including seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. An obsolete term for ECT is shock therapy. ECT typically consists of a series of treatments given over several weeks. Most people experience marked improvement after three to five treatments. The antidepressant and motor effects in people with Parkinson’s disease continue six months to two years.
