The increased use of right unilateral ECT. This form of ECT involves applying electrodes to only the right temple and right parietal area, vs. bilateral ECT, in which the stimulus
is applied on both fronto-temporal areas.
Dose titration. There’s no longer a one-size-fits-all treatment approach. Rather, the dose of the electrical stimulus is individualized for each patient.
Ultra-brief pulsation. Older ECT equipment delivered a continual current, but today much shorter, less frequent pulses are used.
Patient monitoring is also now more advanced. At Princeton House’s ECT Suite, every patient is closely monitored before, during, and after the procedure by an anesthesiologist, an ACLS-certified nurse, and an ECT psychiatrist.
“In addition to checking for any signs of memory issues, we vigilantly monitor heart activity, blood pressure, oxygen consumption, and other parameters,” says Dr. Khouri. “This not only makes the procedure safer, but it has also expanded our ability to treat patients with comorbid conditions like cardiovascular disease and sleep apnea.”
Once a patient has completed an initial course of ECT therapy of generally 6 to 12 treatments, continuation treatment is spaced out over time to maintain progress.
“ECT is one part of a broad approach to treating certain behavioral health problems,” adds Dr. Khouri. “It’s important to also include psychotherapy and the right medication for each individual patient in an ongoing treatment plan.”
Article as seen in the Winter 2017 issue of Princeton House Behavioral Health.
