Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • All CitiesAll Cities
  • Services
  • Behavioral Health Care
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Content

Mills-Peninsula Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

If you or someone you love suffers from a severe behavioral health condition and other treatments have not worked, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can often provide rapid relief to help you feel better and improve your quality of life. ECT can help symptoms of severe depression, bipolar disorder, mania and more.

mature-couple-embracing

In a Crisis? Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK

If this is an emergency, call 911.

ECT – Safe and Effective

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure that passes a small electric current through your brain to treat depression and other debilitating behavioral health illnesses. In many cases, ECT can significantly reduce or even reverse symptoms such as severe depression, suicidal thoughts, mania and catatonia.

You may be a candidate for ECT if medication or other treatments have not worked. ECT is done in a hospital setting while you are under general anesthesia. Patients typically receive treatments that are initially a few times per week and then space out to every week for approximately six to 12 weeks.

ECT itself takes about five to 10 minutes, with added time for preparation and recovery. For your first treatment(s), you may be admitted to the hospital, with subsequent treatments as an outpatient.

Preparing for ECT

  • Before ECT, you receive medicine to relax you (muscle relaxant). You also receive a short-acting anesthetic to minimize any pain.
  • The medical team places electrodes on your scalp to monitor your brain activity and deliver the electric current.

Side Effects

Risks and side effects may include confusion, memory loss, physical side effects and medical complications. These risks will vary by patient. Discuss your ECT treatment plan and its potential risks and side effects with your doctor.

Understanding Depression

woman drinking coffee in bed

Is It Sadness or Depression?

When does feeling bad signal clinical depression? Learn the signs and symptoms.

Father hugging sad son

Depression Symptoms by Age Group

Learn how the signs of depression and triggers differ in children, teens, adults and seniors.

Antidepressants

Help for Clinical Depression

Depression is a complex disease. Learn how to treat depression with talk therapy, antidepressants and more.

Mental Health Research

Sutter Health Mental Health Research
About 26 percent of Americans each year suffer from a mental health disorder like depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anorexia. Our mental health affects our family, our job, how well we live and how soon we die. It’s important to find effective treatments and ways to prevent the damage from mental illness.

Sutter Health Mental Health Research Sutter Health Mental Health Research

Services Near You

Mills Health Center

Mills Health Center

100 South San Mateo Drive

San Mateo, CA 94401

(650) 696-5400

View All Related Locations

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare Advantage
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Residencies and Fellowships
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2022 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences