Is shock therapy a safe treatment for depression?

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As your mother is suffering from treatment-resistant depression, she is not responding to multiple drugs. ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) is a good treatment modality with very few side effects if administrated properly. Also, there are unlikely any long-term side effects of this. Now, considering the situation, ECT is a good option for your mother. Also, the results of ECT are faster compared to antidepressants. ECT is also effective when drugs fail, and it is most valuable when the person is suffering from severe depression and also has suicidal thoughts. So, you should not hesitate because it is a good modality for treatment-resistant depression. Thank you

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It means that proper pre-anesthetic care has been taken like the patient should be on overnight fasting. The pre-anesthetic drugs are used under the supervision of an anesthetist.. The general physical condition of the patient is good.. There is no contradiction in the use of anesthetic agents. Generally, ECT is quite safe, and minor side effects like post-ECT headache and muscle pain will be there that are easily manageable. Major side effects like post ECT confusion and memory loss for the time around which the ECT was given are rare. However, permanent memory loss does not occur. Death can occur as a very rare side effect, the incidence of which is around one in a hundred thousand, which is more favorable than the risk associated with anesthesia used for other surgical procedures and childbirth. Thank you.