Can ECT cause a seizure disorder to develop?
No. ECT actually raises the seizure threshold making it harder for the brain to have a seizure and making it less likely for spontaneous seizures to occur. How many treatments are involved in ECT? ECT is done as a series of treatments, usually totaling between six and 12. The first several treatments are administered three times a week and then less frequently as the series continues. Are all ECT series treatments given as an inpatient procedure? No. Many patients continue their series of treatments as outpatients. Why does ECT require so many treatments? In the same way that antibiotics must be taken over time to be effective, the benefits of ECT build as the series continues. Is there a risk of receiving too much electrical current during an ECT procedure? No. The ECT machine is programmed by the manufacturer to deliver a safe amount of current. The machine is incapable of delivering more than the safe, preset maximum. How much electricity is used to cause the seizure in the brain? T
