Abstract

ANESTHESIA FOR ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY: A NOBLE APPROACH

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has always proved to be an effective mode of therapy in the field of Psychiatry. Modified ECT is applied in the form of electrical stimulus to the central nervous system; it is associated with acute physiologic response leading to autonomic nervous system stimulation with an initial parasympathetic stimulation followed by a more prominent sympathetic response as well as post-ictal effects like confusion and delirium. The factors governing the efficacy of Modified ECT are the strength of electrical current applied and the duration of the seizure activity. Modified ECT requires the use of general anesthesia and many of the anesthetic drugs also have an effect on the duration of seizure and could adversely affect the efficacy of the Modified ECT treatments. Therefore, there has to be a delicate balance between achieving an adequate anesthetic state and optimal duration of seizure activity.

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