Counseling, Mental Health & Psychiatry

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
The Division of Psychiatry at Geisinger Medical Center offers Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) on an inpatient and outpatient basis. ECT is used to treat patients with:

• Severe depression
• Mania
• Schizophrenia
• Catatonia
• No improvement in condition with medication treatment. (The use of oral antidepression medication is typically the first course of treatment)

ECT has about 25% of the voltage of cardiac resuscitation. It administers direct current to the patient's brain. Patients are sedated and given a muscle relaxant, and ECT is administered in the presence of:

• Anesthesiologist
• Nurse anesthetist
• Psychiatrist

A typical course of therapy consists of eight to 10 treatments generally given three times a week for three weeks and then if necessary a maintenance protocol of treatments starting at once a week for a few weeks and then spaced out gradually until one receives treatments once a month for a few months.

A thorough pre-ECT evaluation is essential to the safety and efficacy of ECT. This is routinely conducted in association with a physician assistant (PA-C) and an anesthesiologist and includes:

• A complete medical and psychiatric history
• Full physical exam
• Laboratory analysis of blood and, if needed, urine
• Depending of age and risk factors, an electrocardiogram and X-rays of chest and spine.

For more information on ECT or to schedule an appointment, contact the Division of Psychiatry at (570) 271-6396.