ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. The treatment is administered by a team of trained medical professionals that includes a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a nurse or physician assistant.

ECT has a long history that dates back to the late 1930s. Many advances have been made since then making the practice a modern and well-established medical procedure.

ECT is used to safely and effectively treat various mental illnesses including major depression major depression a complex mood disorder where an individual has a severe and persistent low or depressed mood, decreased interest in pleasurable activities, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, lack of energy, poor concentration, appetite changes, psychomotor retardation or agitation, sleep disturbances, or suicidal thoughts. , bipolar disorder (mania, depression and mixed state) bipolar disorder (mania, depression and mixed state) is a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration. These shifts can make it difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks. , schizophrenia schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel and behave. It may result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavior. , schizoaffective disorder schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition that is marked by a mix of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression, mania and a milder form of mania called hypomania. , catatonia catatonia a complex neuropsychiatric behavioral syndrome that is characterized by abnormal movements, immobility, abnormal behaviors, and withdrawal. , neuroleptic malignant syndrome neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare but life-threatening reaction that can occur in response to antipsychotic medications. , perinatal disorders perinatal disorders a mental health disorder experienced during pregnancy, after having a new baby, adopting, or experiencing pregnancy/infant loss. and Parkinson’s disease.

There are growing reports suggesting its benefit in treating post stroke depression, delirium delirium is a mental state in which you are confused, disoriented, and not able to think or remember clearly. , obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable, unwanted and recurring thoughts or images that are intrusive and cause distress (obsessions), and engages in repetitive behaviors to relieve the stress of the obsessions (compulsions). , chronic pain and self-injurious behavior in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms such as a lack of reciprocal social communication and the presence of restricted, repetitive, and inflexible patterns of behavior. These symptoms can happen on a spectrum of severity and type. and intellectual disability.

Other factors that determine treatment with ECT include:

• Nature and severity of symptomology;
• Treatment history, particularly treatment resistance;
• Risk versus benefit; and
• Patient preference.

Recent research suggests that ECT works by changing neurons in your brain through growth and reorganization.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a specialized treatment for people with severe depression and other mental illnesses whose conditions have not responded to other medications or therapies.

It is a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment that uses focused magnetic fields to target areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation, thought and behaviour.

The treatment can be helpful for people who may not tolerate medication due to side effects or conditions such as pregnancy. In severe cases, it can work more quickly than other therapies and it can be used in combination with other treatments for better outcomes.

A cushioned helmet is placed on the patient’s head. It’s through this device that the magnetic pulses are repetitively delivered direct to the brain to immediately stimulate brain activity.

There is a noise and the patient will feel a tapping sensation on their scalp. Some patients may experience minor side effects such as headache or mild pain.

Each treatment lasts around five minutes, and a full course of treatment is administered five times a week for six weeks. Patients can typically return to their regular activities immediately afterwards.