Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

If you’re living with depression, schizophrenia or other mental health conditions, finding the right care can take time. When symptoms persist despite treatment, Weill Cornell Medicine offers Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) to residents of Manhattan, Upper East Side, White Plains, Westchester County and surrounding areas. Learn more about this innovative treatment to find out if it could help improve your mental health.

What is Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe, effective treatment for specific mental illnesses. Administered in a highly controlled setting, ECT sends a mild electric current through the brain to stimulate a brief seizure. By doing this, ECT helps improve brain function. Ongoing research aims to understand exactly how ECT works, but it has proven safe and effective for helping specific patients manage mental health symptoms.

What Conditions Does ECT Treat?

One of the primary uses of electroconvulsive therapy is to manage treatment-resistant depression. If you experience this condition, you continue to experience troublesome symptoms despite treatment.

Along with severe depression, ECT may be used to treat other conditions, including:

• Catatonia
• Mania
• Psychosis

Who Is a Good Candidate for ECT?

Your provider may recommend ECT if you can’t take antidepressants or other medications to treat severe depression or other mental health issues. You may also be a candidate if you take medication and continue to experience the following:

• Delusions or other psychotic symptoms along with depression
• Severe depressive symptoms during pregnancy
• Suicidal thoughts

What Are the Benefits of ECT?

The purpose of ECT therapy is to bring relief to those with treatment-resistant mental health disorders. To date, it’s considered the most effective option for doing this, often bringing relief faster than medication. These positive results are seen in the vast majority of people who use electroconvulsive therapy, whether for catatonia, depression, mania or schizophrenia.

How Do I Prepare for ECT Outpatient Treatment?

When you schedule your appointment, a member of your care team will provide you with specific instructions for preparing for treatment. These include:

• Dress comfortably. Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your treatment session. 
• Fast. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the day of your procedure. You may drink small sips of water while taking medication necessary for your electroconvulsive therapy session.
• Stop medication. You may need to stop taking one or more medications. Inform your doctor of all medications you take, so you can receive appropriate guidance.

What Takes Place During ECT Outpatient Treatment?

When you arrive at Weill Cornell Medicine for ECT, you get escorted to the procedure room. You then meet your treatment team, which includes the following experts:

• Anesthesiologist
• Electroconvulsive therapy nurse
• Psychiatrist

Before treatment, you are welcome to ask any questions you may have. Then, the following occurs:

• A nurse or doctor places an intravenous (IV) line into your arm or hand. Anesthesia administered through the IV helps you remain asleep throughout the treatment, and muscle relaxants help loosen your muscles.
• Your care team places electrodes on your head, chest, arms and legs. These are connected to the ECT machine.
• The psychiatrist administers a mild electric current through the electrodes on your head for up to eight seconds. This causes a brief seizure. However, the anesthesia prevents your body from convulsing. 
• You wake up and move to the recovery area.

Your entire experience lasts approximately 75 minutes, and you’re only asleep for five minutes.

How Many Times Will I Need ECT?

Most ECT patients at Weill Cornell Medicine receive treatment until symptoms go away. While every patient is different, those seeking care for depression normally require eight to 10 treatment sessions. Treatment typically takes place two or three times a week.

If you have mental illnesses other than depression, you may need more or fewer treatments. We tailor your individual treatment plan to your specific symptoms.

Once you find relief, you may benefit from maintenance ECT sessions. These can help maintain positive results over time.

Do I Keep Taking Medication After Electroconvulsive Therapy?

You may find such relief from ECT that you feel medication is no longer necessary. Despite how you feel, continue taking medication as prescribed. We will work with your psychiatrist during and after treatment to determine if your medication regimen should be adjusted.

What Are the Side Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Undergoing ECT can result in unexpected side effects. Common side effects include the following:

• Aches and pains. You may experience headache, nausea, jaw pain or muscle aches for a short time. Over-the-counter pain medication can help manage your discomfort. 
• Confusion. Immediately after treatment, you may feel confused. This resolves within a few hours.
• Memory loss. Previously, some people experienced permanent memory loss after a course of ECT. New advances have reduced the risk of long-term memory loss, but you may notice short-term memory loss. This makes it difficult to remember events from the days and weeks leading up to your treatment. Memory typically returns within a few months.

Tell your care team if you experience symptoms after ECT. We may adjust your treatment to reduce the risk of side effects.

Does ECT Pose Any Risks to My Health?

Like all medical treatments, ECT outpatient procedures come with certain risks. Because ECT takes place with general anesthesia, you may experience the following:

• Increased heart rate 
• Raised blood pressure

In rare cases, these can lead to persistent heart problems. At Weill Cornell Medicine, we prioritize your safety at all times when providing outpatient ECT services. Before undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, we assess your overall health. We then take steps to minimize potential risks to your heart and overall wellbeing. 

Why Choose Weill Cornell Medicine?

Weill Cornell Medicine offers a team of caring professionals with extensive expertise in electroconvulsive therapy. We carefully explain the purpose and limitations of ECT and answer any questions or concerns you may have. 

Along with providing the latest treatment options, we actively drive the future of mental health care. Through our Joint Clinical Trials Office, you have access to emerging therapies not available at many centers across America.

Is ECT Covered By Insurance?

Insurance usually covers ECT treatment. At Weill Cornell Medicine, our program liaison can help you determine if insurance covers the procedure.

Where Can I Access Outpatient ECT in New York City?

Whether you need inpatient or outpatient care, world-class electroconvulsive therapy is offered at the following locations:

• NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
• NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health 

Want to learn more about ECT services at Weill Cornell Medicine? Please fill out our online form to schedule an evaluation or contact our care team at (914) 997-4323.