Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital has performed its first medical treatments using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a therapeutic alternative for patients with severe mental illness. The procedure involves applying controlled electrical currents to the brain to induce a brief therapeutic seizure.
Described as safe, the treatment is administered under general anesthesia with rigorous monitoring and muscle relaxation. ECT is considered one of the most effective treatments for severe depression. The availability of this therapy in Madeira means patients and their families no longer need to travel to the mainland, offering greater proximity, comfort, and family support.
Micaela Fonseca de Freitas, the regional secretary for Health and Civil Protection, noted that the acquisition of the equipment, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), enhances the Psychiatry Service of SESARAM. It aims to improve care for individuals with severe mental illness and reduce costs associated with travel and morbidity.
This innovative treatment is also expected to decrease the number and duration of hospitalizations, benefiting both patients and the institution by providing an additional therapeutic option.
