What Is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)? For ECT, electrodes are placed on the patient's scalp and a finely controlled electric current is applied while the patient is under general anesthesia. The current causes a brief seizure in the brain. Who Might Benefit From ECT? According to the American Psychiatric Association, ECT can be beneficial and safe in the following situations: • When a need exists for rapid treatment response, such as in pregnancy • When a patient refuses food and that leads to nutritional deficiencies • When a patient's depression is resistant to antidepressant therapy • When other medical ailments prevent the use of antidepressant medication • When the patient is in a catatonic stupor • When the depression is accompanied by psychotic features • When treating bipolar disorder, including both mania and depression • When treating mania • When treating patients who have a severe risk of suicide • When treating patients who have had a previous response to ECT • When treating patients with psychotic depression or psychotic mania • When treating patients with major depression • When treating schizophrenia Immediate side effects • drowsiness (you may sleep for a while) • confusion • headache • feeling sick • aching muscles • loss of appetite Longer term effects include: • apathy (loss of interest in things) • loss of creativity, drive and energy • difficulty concentrating • loss of emotional responses • difficulty learning new information