Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
ECT is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. It often works when other treatments are unsuccessful.
A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities; it's like having a computer virus that slows down your system and makes you unable to enjoy using it.
Anesthesia: This is what doctors use to make you sleep during procedures like ECT – consider it as putting your computer into sleep mode while updates are being installed.
Seizure: An uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain; imagine if there was an electrical surge causing all programs on your computer to open at once - that's similar to what happens during a seizure.