Which statement about ECT is true?

Which statement about ECT is true?

• A. It uses only psychotherapy
• B. It is performed under general anesthesia with muscle relaxant
• C. It is used only for bipolar disorder
• D. It causes permanent memory loss for all patients

Answer: (B)

ECT is delivered with the patient under general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant to prevent injury during the seizure, followed by a brief, controlled convulsion. This anesthesia-and-muscle-relaxant setup is what makes that statement true, since modern ECT relies on a short-acting anesthetic and a muscle relaxant to keep the patient safe during the procedure. ECT is not just psychotherapy and is not limited to bipolar disorder; it’s used for severe or treatment-resistant depression (often with psychotic features), catatonia, and certain manic states. Memory effects can occur, typically as short-term or temporary memory gaps around the treatment period, but permanent memory loss for all patients is not expected; most people recover without lasting cognitive deficits.

ECT is delivered with the patient under general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant to prevent injury during the seizure, followed by a brief, controlled convulsion. This anesthesia-and-muscle-relaxant setup is what makes that statement true, since modern ECT relies on a short-acting anesthetic and a muscle relaxant to keep the patient safe during the procedure. ECT is not just psychotherapy and is not limited to bipolar disorder; it’s used for severe or treatment-resistant depression (often with psychotic features), catatonia, and certain manic states. Memory effects can occur, typically as short-term or temporary memory gaps around the treatment period, but permanent memory loss for all patients is not expected; most people recover without lasting cognitive deficits.