Electroconvulsive Therapy

One in four adults over the age of 20 suffer from some form of mental illness, ranging from recent anxiety to a longtime concern. At Baton Rouge General, we promote a healthy lifestyle to address your needs, discussing all options available before deciding on any treatment.

The quickest, safest and most effective, acute treatment for major depression, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) has a 70 to 90% improvement rate for patients. Baton Rouge General is the only ECT provider in the region.

ECT often works when other treatments are unsuccessful and can benefit pregnant and lactating women, seniors, people with limited tolerance to psychiatric medications and those who are at a high risk of suicide. ECT is a safe and effective option for psychiatric disorders. During treatment, electric currents are passed through the brain, deliberately triggering a brief seizure that can reverse the symptoms of certain mental illnesses. If ECT is recommended, your care team will educate and inform you about the procedure and give you a complete medical examination including a history, physical, neurological examination, EKG and laboratory test. ECT can be conducted on an inpatient or outpatient basis, as determined by your doctor.

• Conditions Treated
• Atypical Psychosis
• Bipolar Disorder
• Psychiatric Disorders
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Treatment Resistant Depression

Referrals

Your clinician can refer you by sending nurses’ notes, including documentation of behavioral concerns, face sheet, history, physical, most recent MAR, and any current diagnostics including lab work by fax to (225) 387-7829. With questions, please call (225) 381-2621.

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