Publication details
Elektrokonvulzivní terapie v léčbě dětských a adolescentních pacientů
| Title in English | Electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of child and adolescent patients |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2019 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a biological method of treatment in psychiatry, which was first applied in the treatment of mental disorders 80 years ago. Its effectiveness in the treatment of a number of serious acute mental illnesses has not yet been surpassed. It is currently used in most inpatient psychiatric facilities in the Czech Republic. During the use of EKT, there has been a significant modernization and modification of the method, and nowadays this treatment is safe, with minimal incidence of side effects. Despite this, it is still associated with considerable stigma not only among the public but also among doctors. The last comprehensive publication on EKT was published 20 years ago, so the authors decided to process the current findings into a comprehensive publication. The aim is to acquaint experts and the general public with the nature and rules of using electroconvulsive therapy. The introductory theoretical part brings information about the history and development of ECT and the causes of its stigmatization. It describes the mechanism of action of this method, summarizes the knowledge about its effectiveness and compares its use in the Czech Republic and in the world. The second part provides practical information for the use of ECT in everyday practice. It describes the indications and contraindications of this therapy, deals with possible side effects and possibilities of their minimization. It also brings knowledge about the treatment of specific groups of patients (senior population, children, pregnant women, patients with a neurological diagnosis). Finally, new variants of ECT are mentioned - maintenance and continuation - and visions of therapeutic use in the near future. |