The Autonomous Region of Madeira conducted its first medical treatments using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on September 14.
According to the Regional Secretariat for Health and Civil Protection, this therapy serves as an alternative for patients with severe mental illnesses, involving the application of controlled electrical currents to the brain to induce a brief therapeutic seizure. The procedure is described as safe, performed under rigorous monitoring, muscle relaxation, and general anesthesia, and is considered one of the most effective treatments for severe depression.
The introduction of ECT in Madeira aims to prevent patients and their families from needing to travel to the mainland, offering greater proximity and comfort. Regional Health Secretary Micaela Fonseca de Freitas highlighted that the equipment, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), is a valuable asset for SESARAM's Psychiatry Service, improving care and reducing costs associated with travel and morbidity.
