Final answer:
ECT is primarily used to treat depression, especially when other treatments fail or an urgent response is required. It works by changing brain chemistry through electrically induced seizures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is used successfully in order to treat depression. This treatment is one of several methods for managing major depression, including psychotherapy, deep-brain stimulation, and various pharmacological approaches like taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors) and select serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Depression is characterized by a severely depressed mood lasting longer than two weeks, along with other symptoms such as a loss of enjoyment in previously enjoyed activities, changes in appetite and sleep schedules, and difficulty concentrating.
While ECT is an effective treatment for depression, it is usually considered when other treatments have not been successful or when there is an urgent need for rapid treatment. This medical procedure involves sending small electric currents through the brain, deliberately triggering a brief seizure in order to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions.