Clinical Manual of Electroconvulsive Therapy

The authors of Clinical Manual of Electroconvulsive Therapy offer this volume to help psychiatrists successfully incorporate electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) into their clinical practices. ECT remains the definitive treatment for a variety of mental disorders because it is often effective when other treatments fail. The book updates the 1985 original and 1998 second edition of Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Programmed Text, and provides readers with a scheduled approach to understanding the fundamental concepts of ECT while offering practical guidance for establishing and maintaining an ECT program. Included are detailed descriptions of recent advances that have made this very effective treatment much safer and more acceptable to patients. Currently, it is estimated that more than 100,000 people receive ECT treatments each year in the U.S. Indications for use of ECT are for mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and mania, and for thought disorders including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Indications for use in other psychiatric disorders and general medical disorders are reviewed as well. Patient information sheets and a written consent form are also provided.