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How Safe Is Electroconvulsive Therapy?

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Posted on Tue, 5 Sep 2017
Question: How safe is ECT? And, how often is it used in patients with MDD with mild anxiety?
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
One of the safest option of treatment

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand your concerns about the ECT and safety associated with it.

In the current era of modern medicine ECT is as safe as any medicine used for treatment of depression. There is risk of one death in million session of ex administration.

The only and noticeable side effect of ECT is some cognitive impairment which can also be reduced with spacing of ECT.

In regard to your another question I like to inform you that currently ECT is used for only resistant cases of depression and very rarely used for simple depression with mild anxiety. However it all depends on the treating psychiatrist and it is often recommended when all other available options either fail or there is need for rapid improvement.

I hope this answers you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3355 Questions

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How Safe Is Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Brief Answer: One of the safest option of treatment Detailed Answer: Dear XXXXXXX Thanks for using Healthcaremagic. I read your query and understand your concerns about the ECT and safety associated with it. In the current era of modern medicine ECT is as safe as any medicine used for treatment of depression. There is risk of one death in million session of ex administration. The only and noticeable side effect of ECT is some cognitive impairment which can also be reduced with spacing of ECT. In regard to your another question I like to inform you that currently ECT is used for only resistant cases of depression and very rarely used for simple depression with mild anxiety. However it all depends on the treating psychiatrist and it is often recommended when all other available options either fail or there is need for rapid improvement. I hope this answers you. Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions. Thanks and regards.