Electroconvulsive Therapy Treatment at Holly Hill Hospital

Special COVID-19 Precautions:

All patients will be screened for COVID-19 prior to their appointment and upon arrival for ECT. Patient temperatures will be taken upon entry to the South Campus Adult Hospital.
All staff have and will continue to be screened and have their temperatures taken prior to entering the building each day. Staff are required to wear masks in common areas and in the treatment room.
We will disinfect our patient treatment room in between each ECT treatment. Our lobby, restroom and other frequently touched areas will be disinfected on a regular schedule throughout the day.
Hand sanitizer will be made available In the lobby area and inside ECT.

What we need our patients to do and to understand:

To maintain social distancing, patients may be required to wait in their car until their treatment.
All patients will be required to wear their own mask or face covering at all times while in the facility.
Patient’s support person will be required to wait in his/her vehicle for the duration of the ECT consultation and/or treatment.

Please immediately notify our office at 919-900-5439 to reschedule your appointment if you are exhibiting any of the following COVID-19 symptoms:

Cough
Shortness of breath of difficulty breathing
Fever
Chills
Shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell
GI issues

High Risk Patients:
We encourage patients that are listed as high risk, per CDC guidelines, to make an informed decision about their care. You may choose to delay treatment. Know that we are here to serve you when you feel comfortable.

ECT AT HOLLY HILL HOSPITAL

In recent years, medicine has vastly improved the diagnosis and treatment options available for those suffering from mental illness. New therapies and medications have helped countless people recover from debilitating psychiatric problems that were previously thought untreatable. Despite these advances, not everyone experiences the same success. Electroconvulsive Therapy is an option for patients who have not responded to traditional therapies and medication. Electroconvulsive Therapy treatment can provide rapid, significant improvements in symptoms of several mental health conditions, with more than half of severely treatment-resistant patients achieving remission*.

WHAT IS ECT?

ECT is a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment administered under general anesthesia to adults over the age of 18 who suffer from severe episodes of major depression, persistent suicidal ideation, mania and some types of schizophrenia and who have either not responded to medications or whose symptoms are too severe to permit medication trials.

HOW DO I KNOW IF ECT IS RIGHT FOR ME?

ECT can be an effective treatment modality when psychotherapy and antidepressant medications are unsuccessful. ECT provides rapid, effective and significant improvements in patients with symptoms of severe and treatment-resistant depression or schizophrenia.

IS ECT EFFECTIVE

Electroconvulsive Therapy has been proven to be a useful treatment method with more than half of severely treatment-resistant patients achieving remission, according to the National Institutes of Health. Still, there is no guarantee that ECT will be effective. Your doctor will discuss with you why ECT inpatient or ECT outpatient therapy is being recommended and what alternative treatments may be available.

IS ECT SAFE?

Holly Hill Hospital has provided over 1,000 ECT treatments since opening our South Campus Adult Hospital. Prior to Electroconvulsive Therapy, patients will undergo a physical and psychiatric evaluation to ensure that the treatments can be administered in the most effective manner. All patients’ lab work and EKG results are reviewed by our physicians prior to treatment. Additionally, focused consultation and monitoring of progress is conducted throughout the treatment.

HOW DOES ECT WORK?

At Holly Hill Hospital, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, Electroconvulsive Therapy is performed by a team of medical professionals specifically trained in its delivery. This team consists of a psychiatrist, anesthesiologist and nursing staff. The psychiatrist commonly delivers the ECT stimulation. The anesthesia team administers general anesthesia, medications and monitors the patient’s medical status throughout the procedure. After the treatment, nursing staff will continue to monitor the patient’s progress until they return to the inpatient or outpatient unit.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER ECT?

While Electroconvulsive Therapy is an extremely effective treatment, it is only one component of a complete treatment regimen. After your ECT course, medications will likely be required as maintenance therapy to help prevent a return of your illness. ECT cannot resolve other problems associated with personal relationships or how an individual copes with the stressors of life. Other interventions such as psychotherapy may be recommended.

For more information on our adult ECT program and Holly Hill Hospital’s inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment programs, or to schedule an assessment, please contact us at 919-900-5439.

There are risks associated with any treatment procedure and individual results may vary. Please consult the dedicated professionals within the ECT program at Holly Hill Hospital to assess if you are a candidate for ECT treatment. Our Medical Staff will also consult with you on the risks and benefits of ECT treatment if you are a suitable candidate.

Begin Your Healing Journey Today

Sometimes life feels too heavy to handle on your own and you need someone to help you through. We want you to know that it’s okay to ask. Taking the first step can be difficult, but Holly Hill is here for you. We promise that our assessment counselors will meet you with compassion and without judgment. No matter where you are, it’s never too late to reach out.

It all starts with a free, confidential assessment, accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’ll walk you through every step of the process. You don’t have to be alone. Let us help. Call 919-250-7000 or complete our online contact form.