Service : Electroconvulsive Therapy Service

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a very safe, effective medical treatment that we may offer if you have a severe mental health condition, such as:

• severe depression
• treatment-resistant depression
• severe mania
• catatonia

Not all mental health conditions need ECT treatment. If you do need ECT, our team will discuss this option with you first before agreeing to go through with the procedure.

How ECT works

You will be put under general anaesthetic, meaning that you’ll be asleep and won't feel anything. We will send very small electric currents through the brain to trigger a brief controlled seizure.

You may get some aftereffects from the anaesthetic during recovery.

ECT is believed to affect brain chemistry and improve neuroplasticity, which is important for helping your brain form new connections to relieve symptoms of mental illness.

A course of ECT usually involves 12 rounds of treatment.

To access our service, you to be aged over 18 and referred by a consultant psychiatrist.

Before the treatment starts, you'll be given written information and you can visit the clinic to discuss the treatment.

The clinic takes place in the Pimpernel Suite at Prospect Park Hospital in Reading.

You’re welcome to bring someone with you to your assessment and ECT sessions.

To make sure ECT is the right treatment for you, we will complete the following steps:

1. Medical evaluation

We’ll arrange an assessment with you, which could include different tests, such as:

• a physical exam of your body, and review of your medical history
• blood tests and possibly imaging like an electrocardiogram (ECG) of your heart rate and rhythm, or a chest x-ray
• a psychiatric evaluation to confirm ECT is appropriate for you

Your doctor will review your current medications. Some may need to be adjusted or paused before treatment, especially if your medication affects the seizure threshold or anaesthesia. We’ll discuss these checks with you.

2. Consent and arranging your session

We’ll talk about the treatment process with you, including any possible risks.  

Informed consent is essential, from either yourself or a legal representative (not a relative) if you're unable to provide it.

If it’s safe to offer ECT, we’ll arrange the sessions with you.

3. Treatment and recovery

We suggest wearing loose, comfortable clothing.

You must not eat or drink from midnight the night before your session - this is known as fasting.

When you arrive for your session, we’ll talk to you again about how the procedure will go.

We’ll place an intravenous (IV) line, to provide the anaesthesia and medications. You’ll receive a short-acting anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant before the electrical stimulation is applied.

We’ll monitor you constantly, using equipment to track your heart and brain activity.

Once the session is finished, we’ll offer you a light meal and refreshments to help you relax in recovery.

After your appointment, where you have received ECT we recommend the following: 

• Prioritise sleep and avoid strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after treatment.
• Eat light, nourishing meals.
• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol.
• Manage any mild headaches or jaw stiffness with paracetamol or other doctor-approved medications.
• Establish a regular sleep-wake cycle and daily structure.
• Avoid driving and operating machinery or large appliances.
• Have a responsible adult with you for 24 hours after the anaesthetic.

You can find further advice about having a general anaesthetic by visiting the NHS website.

We will discuss with you, around the use of general anaesthetic. 

• Visit NHS website