ECT can help treat co-morbid conditions with anxiety such as depression when it is resistant to conventional treatments such as medications and therapy, which can thus enhance the treatment interventions for anxiety.
ECT is used as a last resort to treatment for depression in people with co-morbid depression and anxiety disorders when conventional methods do not work. In some cases, there is a chance of ECT exacerbating symptoms of anxiety, which is why medications and psychotherapy are the first recommended treatment options for co-morbid conditions with anxiety. ECT is generally safe with mild and temporary side effects such as nausea, headaches, confusion, etc. but is not a safe treatment option for someone with certain medical conditions such as heart issues. Moreover, physical evaluations by a doctor must always precede ECT sessions.
The number of sessions depends on the person’s severity and type of disorder, the presence of any other co-morbid conditions, and the person’s response to the ECT sessions.
Get a daily dose of motivation, straight to your mailbox.