<P> A round of ECT is effective for about 50% of people with treatment - resistant major depressive disorder, whether it is unipolar or bipolar . Follow - up treatment is still poorly studied, but about half of people who respond relapse within twelve months . </P> <P> Aside from effects in the brain, the general physical risks of ECT are similar to those of brief general anesthesia . Immediately following treatment, the most common adverse effects are confusion and memory loss . ECT is considered one of the least harmful treatment options available for severely depressed pregnant women . </P> <P> A usual course of ECT involves multiple administrations, typically given two or three times per week, until the patient is no longer suffering symptoms . ECT is administered under anesthesia with a muscle relaxant . Electroconvulsive therapy can differ in its application in three ways: electrode placement, frequency of treatments, and the electrical waveform of the stimulus . These three forms of application have significant differences in both adverse side effects and symptom remission . After treatment, drug therapy is usually continued, and some patients receive maintenance ECT . </P> <P> ECT appears to work in the short term via an anticonvulsant effect mostly in the frontal lobes, and longer term via neurotrophic effects primarily in the medial temporal lobe . </P>

Severe recurrent major depression without psychotic features icd 10