A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of major depression with psychotic features. When the client does not respond to antidepressant medications, ECT is ordered. What is the mechanism of action of this therapy?
A) It is thought that ECT causes a temporary loss of serotonergic tone in the CNS.
B) The mechanism of action of ECT remains unknown.
C) ECT causes the client to believe psychologically that punishment has occurred.
D) ECT causes hyperproduction of CNS chemicals and neurotransmitters.
Ans: B
The exact mechanism by which ECT exerts its therapeutic effects remains a mystery. Theories have focused on the idea that ECT may cause significant changes (although it is unknown in which direction and which neurotransmitters) in several neurotransmitters in the CNS, which then lead to lessening of depressive symptoms.
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