Electroconvulsive Therapy Program
About the Program
The ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) Program at the University of Michigan was originally begun by Leon Grunhaus, M.D., in 1986. We continue to be a major site for ECT referrals in Michigan and perform over 1100 ECT treatments per year.
ECT is used in the treatment of severe depression and other psychiatric disorders. At the University of Michigan, ECT is conducted under the direct supervision of a psychiatrist and anesthesiologist, and we implement modern monitoring devices and anesthetic medications to provide safe and effective treatments.
Our team consists of three attending psychiatrists, ECT nursing staff, anesthesiologists, certified nurse anesthetists, and secretarial support staff. Services provided include complete inpatient or outpatient ECT evaluations. Most treatments are conducted on an inpatient basis. However, with our expanding outpatient program, we can provide outpatient ECT treatments for many patients. Contact our ECT Program office for more information in arranging a referral or evaluation.
Research interests of our team include investigating seizure adequacy and techniques to optimize ECT.
We provide training for visiting psychiatrists who wish to initiate their own ECT programs or update their ECT skills and knowledge. Our ECT nurse coordinator, Anne Flanagan, R.N., presents half day teaching sessions for training nurses in the most current ECT nursing procedures and standards of practice.
