Electroconvulsive therapy, often called ECT, is most commonly used to treat patients with severe depression who do not respond to medications or who are unable to tolerate the side effects associated with medications. ECT may also be the treatment of choice for patients who need a more rapid response than medications can provide. These patients may include those who are severely agitated, delusional, suicidal, not eating or drinking, as well as those who suffer from catatonia (a potentially life-threatening trance-like state).

ECT is the most effective treatment for severe mental illness and is extremely safe.

The treatment is given under anaesthesia. A small and safe dose of electricity is administered using a well-controlled electrical circuitry. This stimulates brain cells and produces a brief seizure. The treatment is generally given on alternate days. The total number of sessions is determined by the clinical response to treatment.

The treatment causes some temporary side effects such as headache, muscle ache, some transient lapses in memory. Overall, the advantages of ECT are expected to outweigh the risks