Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

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Inpatient Behavioral Health Services

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Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe, effective treatment that can help manage symptoms of severe depression, bipolar disorder, and other serious mental health conditions that don’t respond to medication or psychotherapy.

At UT Southwestern, ECT is delivered by a team with experience in treating the most severe and complex mental health conditions.

What Is Electroconvulsive Therapy?

ECT is a medical treatment that uses a brief, controlled electrical stimulation to the brain while the patient is safely under general anesthesia. This creates short, medically supervised seizures that can change brain chemistry and lead to major improvement in certain mental health conditions.

Why Choose UT Southwestern for Electroconvulsive Therapy?

People choose to receive ECT at UT Southwestern because they know they are in skilled and caring hands. Our team has extensive experience and follows the highest standards in safety, monitoring, and treatment. We have also played a meaningful role in major research studies that have helped shape modern ECT practice, allowing us to bring the most up-to-date knowledge to our patients.

We offer both inpatient and outpatient ECT, making it easier to get the level of care that fits your needs. Many of our staff are active in national professional organizations, and our patients often tell us how supported, respected, and truly cared for they feel throughout their treatment.

What Are the Benefits of Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Many people experience major improvement with ECT, especially when other treatments have not helped. Although ECT may not work for everyone, it has been carefully studied for decades and is recognized as a safe and effective treatment by the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Psychiatric Association, and the U.S. Surgeon General.

What Conditions Does Electroconvulsive Therapy Treat?

ECT is a very effective treatment for some serious mental health conditions. Most of the time, it is used when medicines, therapy, or other treatments have not worked well enough. It can also be used sooner if symptoms are very severe or if someone needs help quickly.

At UT Southwestern, we offer ECT for adults with:

Major depression, especially when a person feels extremely sad or hopeless, cannot function, has thoughts of suicide, or hears or sees things that are not there.
Treatment-resistant depression when several types of medicine or therapy have not helped.
Catatonia, which involves trouble moving, speaking, or responding; this can happen in mood disorders, psychotic disorders, or autism.
Bipolar depression, the “down” episodes in bipolar disorder that are hard to treat.
Bipolar mania, the “up” episodes in bipolar disorder that do not improve with medication.
Schizoaffective disorder, a condition with symptoms of both mood changes and psychosis.
Schizophrenia, especially when symptoms do not get better with medicine or when catatonia is present.

Our team talks with each patient and their family to decide if ECT is a safe and helpful choice. We make a plan based on each person’s needs and health history.

Learn more about the conditions we treat in our adult psychiatry program.

What Can Patients Expect with Electroconvulsive Therapy?

ECT is a carefully planned series of medical procedures provided by our team of psychiatrists, nurses, and anesthesia specialists at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. Our care team guides patients through every step.

Before ECT

Once a patient and their psychiatrist decide that ECT is the right option, the patient completes a medical evaluation to make sure treatment is safe for them. This usually includes blood work, an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a discussion with our anesthesia team. Other specialists may be consulted when appropriate.

If a patient is receiving ECT on an outpatient basis, they need to avoid eating or drinking (nothing by mouth, or NPO) on the morning of each treatment, and they will not be able to drive after receiving ECT.

After the patient checks in at the ECT suite, the team records their vital signs, reviews how they’ve been feeling, and answers any questions. The patient signs consent forms and has a small intravenous (IV) line placed in their arm.

During ECT

In the procedure room, monitors are placed to check heart, breathing, and brain activity. After a safety “timeout,” the patient is given medicine through the IV that puts them fully to sleep, along with a muscle relaxant to keep their body still. Once they’re asleep, small electrodes are placed on their head. A brief, controlled electrical stimulation triggers a short seizure that lasts less than a minute.

The patient does not feel or remember this part of the treatment. The entire procedure takes only a few minutes.

After ECT

The patient wakes up in a recovery area, where nurses monitor them until they are fully awake and stable. They may be given medications to help with common side effects such as headache, nausea, muscle soreness, or confusion. Most people feel like themselves again within a few hours.

Outpatients go home the same day with a friend, family member, or other responsible adult. They cannot drive, drink alcohol, or use nonprescription substances during their course of ECT.
Inpatients return to their hospital bed after recovery and continue care with their treatment team.

Course of Treatment

ECT is typically given three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) for three to four weeks until patients reach their maximum improvement. After this, they may enter a continuation phase, where treatments are spaced further apart to help maintain their progress and prevent relapse.

What Support Services for Electroconvulsive Therapy Does UT Southwestern Offer?

As part of our comprehensive care for people with mental health disorders, we offer support groups and other resources. These services can be tailored to meet the specific needs of patients and their families for improved quality of life. Read more about supportive services available for psychiatry and psychology patients.