The Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Clinic provides treatment for people who are diagnosed with specific mental illness, mainly severe depression, mania and catatonia.
ECT has one of the best outcomes for these mental illnesses and is considered when other treatment options have not been effective. A course of treatment usually consists of up to 12 sessions. ECT is a specialised treatment, and the small team of staff are highly trained and have many years of experience in delivering ECT.
All patients that are referred for ECT need to have a responsible clinician and be under the care of secondary mental health services. Both inpatients and outpatients can be referred for ECT.
ECT is given under general anaesthetic and therefore a stringent referral and a consent process must be followed. This includes an ECT anaesthetic pre-assessment with the consultant anaesthetist. The pre assessment allows information both verbally and in writing to be given to the person referred and allows them the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. A visit to the ECT suite can be arranged before a person commences treatment allowing them to become familiar with the environment and again gives an opportunity to raise any questions.
Harplands Hospital,Hilton Road, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Harplands Hospital
