Contents
        Statement                                             2     Health and fitness check                            14
        Introduction                                          4     General anaesthetic assessment                      15
        Why is ECT prescribed?                                4     What can I do to prepare for my ECT?                16
        How do I know if ECT is right for me?                 4     Staff and the ECT treatment                         18
        ECT as a treatment                                    5     After receiving ECT                                 18
        The criteria for ECT                                  5     Important considerations for older people           19
        How does ECT work?                                    6     Important considerations for Ma¯ori                 20
        Neurotransmitters                                     6     Important considerations for Pacific peoples        20
        ECT and theories                                      7     Important considerations for Asian people           21
        Short-acting treatment                                7     Alternative treatments to ECT                       22
        How is ECT given?                                     8     Making a decision about treatment                   26
        The side effects of ECT – memory loss                 8     Finishing a course of ECT                           27
        Standard assessments                                 10     Glossary                                            29
        Meeting with your psychiatrist                       11     Helpful organisations                               31
        Giving permission to have ECT (‘giving consent’)     12
                                                                               What you and your family and wha¯nau need to know
                                                                                                                              |  3
        Introduction                                               How do I know if ECT is right for me?
        This consumer information pack will help you to work       It can be hard to make a decision on the best treatment 
        with your psychiatrist to identify your treatment goals    when you are unwell. Right now, you might find that 
        and to weigh up the risks, benefits and possible           some or all of the following experiences apply to you. 
        outcomes of ECT.                                           If so, then ECT is likely to be an effective treatment for 
        Most District Health Boards in New Zealand offer ECT as    you.
        a treatment choice.                                        •	 You	may	be	eating	more	or	less	than	usual.
                                                                   •	 Your	sleeping	habits	may	have	changed	so	that	you	
        Why is ECT prescribed?                                        are not sleeping at all.
        Most people diagnosed with depression will respond         •	 You	may	find	it	harder	to	concentrate	and	pay	
        to standard treatments. These treatments include              attention, and you may find it takes a long time to 
        antidepressant medication and psychological                   come to a judgement or decision.
        therapies (also called ‘talking therapies’).               •	 You	may	find	it	hard	to	remember	things	that	
        For a small group of people, these standard treatments        happened recently.
        do not work. They may not work due to the side effects     •	 Getting	washed,	dressed	and	ready	for	the	day	may	
        of some antidepressant medication or for some other           have become too hard.
        reason that is not clearly understood.
        At this stage, the doctor may add another standard         •	 Organising	your	routine	may	have	become	too	
        treatment called a mood stabiliser, like lithium or           difficult.
        sodium valproate. The combination of these two             •	 You	may	have	stopped	doing	things	that	interest	you.
        standard treatments works for some people.                 •	 Your	social	life	may	have	stopped.
        For an even smaller group of people, none of the above     •	 You	may	find	it	difficult	to	think	clearly.
        treatments work. At this point, ECT may be considered.
   4   |   ECT in New Zealand