ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY FOR MENTAL DISORDERS DURING PREGNANCY AND THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy is a method of treating mental disorders that is still used today. It is thanks to electroconvulsive therapy that high rates of remission are achieved in patients. The main clinical indications for electroconvulsive therapy are severe depression with a high risk of suicide, life-threatening somatic conditions due to depression. Electroconvulsive therapy is usually used in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy as a last-line method of choice if there are convincing indications for its administration, to quickly eliminate the symptoms. When performing electroconvulsive therapy, the risks of using anesthesia, side effects, severity of the somatic condition, as well as the risks of not using this therapy are evaluated. Although electroconvulsive therapy is considered to be a safe and effective method for treating mental patients if necessary measures are taken to reduce potential risks, it is extremely rarely used to treat women with mental disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period.