Electroconvulsive Therapy Service

Our approach to electroconvulsive therapy

ECT can be provided on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Outpatients are typically able to return home within about two to two and a half hours after treatment.

Most patients receive a series of 8 to 15 treatments over three to four weeks. If you respond well, your psychiatrist may recommend continued or maintenance ECT to help sustain improvement.

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your treatment, including water, gum, mints, cough drops, and most medications. Do not smoke the day before or the morning of treatment.

Wear comfortable clothing with easy access to your arm for blood pressure checks and IV placement. Avoid perfumes, makeup, and nail polish, and remove dentures, contact lenses, and facial piercings before treatment. Bring an updated list of your medications to each visit.

When you arrive, you will complete brief questionnaires and a memory check, and a nurse will ask about your mood and physical symptoms.

Your care team will review your vital signs and confirm that you have not eaten or drunk anything before treatment. At your first visit, the anesthesiologist will review your medical history and answer any questions.

Before treatment, an IV will be started to deliver anesthesia. You will fall asleep quickly and receive medication to relax your muscles during the procedure.

You will be in the treatment room for about 10 to 15 minutes and will not feel pain during the procedure.

While you are asleep, the clinician places small electrodes on your forehead to monitor brain activity and deliver a controlled electrical stimulus. The anesthesiologist supports your breathing with oxygen and monitors you throughout treatment.

After the procedure, you will move to a recovery area, where most patients wake within a few minutes.

A nurse will stay with you during recovery and monitor your vital signs. It is normal to feel briefly confused when waking up.

After about 30 minutes, you can have something to drink. If you are staying in the hospital, staff will bring you back to your unit. Outpatients spend additional time in a recovery lounge, and most are ready to go home about two hours after treatment.

Before you leave, your care team will provide discharge instructions and schedule your next appointment.

Soon after treatment, most people are ready to eat. Inpatients can have a meal on their unit, and outpatients may have a light meal in the recovery lounge. Some people feel tired and rest, while others feel ready to resume normal activities. A responsible adult should stay with you for the rest of the day.

Avoid driving, strenuous activity, alcohol, or operating machinery for the remainder of the day. You may take your usual medications, and over-the-counter pain relief can help with mild headache or muscle soreness.

Many patients begin to notice improvement after several treatments. Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy may occur first, with mood improvements becoming more noticeable over time.

Support is available for both patients and caregivers, including outpatient and inpatient groups and resources focused on recovery, memory, and coping. These groups offer a safe space to ask questions, share experiences, and better understand what to expect from ECT.

Family involvement is an important part of recovery. We help caregivers navigate the process, connect with resources, and manage the challenges of supporting a loved one.

Consultations are typically covered by insurance, but coverage for ECT varies by plan. Check with your insurance provider for details about your benefits.

If you are paying out of pocket and seeking reimbursement, we can provide documentation to support your claim. Mass General Brigham accepts Medicare, Massachusetts Medicaid, and many private insurance plans.

For more information, review our billing and financial assistance resources.