Is shock therapy legal in New York?

New York’s law and regulations state that no patient may be treated with ECT over his or her objection as long as s/he retains the capacity to make a reasoned decision concerning treatment.

Do hospitals still do electric shock treatment?

Perhaps more significantly, new anti-depressant drugs introduced in the 1970-80s gave doctors new ways to treat long-term mental illness. But for a group of the most severely depressed patients, ECT has remained one of the last options on the table when other therapies have failed.

Is electric shock treatment still used for mental illness?

ECT is most commonly used for severe depression that hasn’t responded to other treatments. It is also used to treat catatonia, an uncommon condition in which a patient may stop talking, eating or moving.

Does the US still use electric shock therapy?

Today, ECT is administered to an estimated 100,000 people a year, primarily in general hospital psychiatric units and in psychiatric hospitals.

What states still use shock therapy?

There were 6 states without any laws pertaining to ECT. California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas were noted to be the most regulatory on ECT. Conclusions: There are no US national laws on ECT leaving individual state governments to regulate treatment.

Is electric shock therapy banned?

(July 8, 2021) — A federal appellate court decision this week overturned a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban on the use of electric shock devices in aversion therapy for children and adults with self-harming or aggressive behaviors.

How do I get approved for ECT?

Before having your first ECT treatment, you’ll need a full evaluation, which usually includes:

  1. Medical history.
  2. Complete physical exam.
  3. Psychiatric assessment.
  4. Basic blood tests.
  5. Electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart health.
  6. Discussion of the risks of anesthesia.

Can ECT change your personality?

ECT does not change a person’s personality, nor is it designed to treat those with just primary “personality disorders.” ECT can cause transient short-term memory — or new learning — impairment during a course of ECT, which fully reverses usually within one to four weeks after an acute course is stopped.