• Skip to main content
  • Skip to main content
Choose which site to search.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Psychiatric Research Institute
  • UAMS Health
  • Jobs
  • Giving
  • Clinical Care
    • Outpatient Care
      • AR ConnectNow
      • Center for Addiction Services and Treatment
        • Improving Access To Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder
        • MATRIARC
          • Project ECHO
        • Medication and Counseling Treatment
        • Medications To Treat Opioid Use Disorders
        • Optimizing Retention, Duration and Discontinuation Strategies for Opioid Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy (RDD)
        • Suboxone Treatment Program
        • Subutex Treatment Program
        • What is Buprenorphine?
        • What Is Methadone?
        • What Is Naltrexone?
        • What Is Vivitrol?
        • Drugs and Addiction
        • New Hybrid Care Program
        • Opioid Use Disorder
      • Child Study Center
        • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
        • Family Resources
          • Handouts for Parents
          • Books
          • Videos
        • Meet the Team – Child Study Center
        • Treatment and Services
      • Psychiatry Clinic in Fayetteville
        • Meet the Team
      • Six Bridges Clinic
      • STRIVE
      • Walker Family Clinic
        • Mental Health Resources
      • Women’s Mental Health Program
        • Peer Support Specialist Services
        • Reproductive Psychiatry Fellowship
        • Substance Use Treatment
        • WMHP Research
        • Women’s Inpatient Unit – 5 North
        • Women’s Mental Health Clinic
        • Women’s Mental Health Program – Fayetteville Branch
      • Odyssey Clinic
        • Northwest Arkansas Schizophrenia Conference 2025 Media
        • Schizophrenia Conference 2024 Media
      • Neuropsychology
    • Inpatient Units
      • Child Diagnostic Unit
        • Child Diagnostic Unit Videos
      • Women’s Inpatient Unit – 5 North
    • Interventional Psychiatry
      • Electroconvulsive Therapy
      • Esketamine
      • Ketamine Infusions
      • SAINT® Neuromodulation System
    • Crisis Stabilization Unit
      • Pulaski County Regional Crisis Stabilization Unit
        • Operation SAVE
  • News
  • PRI Journal
  • Education
  • Research
    • Center for Addiction Research
      • Optimizing Retention, Duration and Discontinuation Strategies for Opioid Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy (RDD)
      • What is Vivitrol?
      • Faculty
        • Alison Oliveto, Ph.D
        • Merideth Addicott, Ph.D.
        • Michael Mancino, M.D.
        • Nihit Kumar, M.D.
    • Center for Health Services Research
      • Behavioral Health QUERI
      • Health Services Research and Development Service
      • Rural Outreach Program
        • Rural Outreach Program Team
      • South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center
      • Center for Health Services Research Faculty and Staff
        • Brandon J. Griffin, Ph.D.
        • Christopher Long, Ph.D.
        • Corey Hayes, Pharm.D., Ph.D., MPH
        • Eva Woodward, Ph.D.
        • Jacob Painter, Pharm.D, Ph.D.
        • Kent D. Hinkson, Ph.D.
        • Leah Tobey, PT, DPT, MBA
        • Marcela Weber, Ph.D.
        • Mary J. Bollinger, MPH, Ph.D.
        • Meghan Breckling, Pharm.D., BCACP
        • Melissa J. Zielinski, Ph.D.
        • Michael Cucciare, Ph.D.
        • Michael Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., FAAEM, FACEP
        • Prasad R. Padala, M.D., M.S., FACHE
        • Rajinder “Sonia” Singh, Ph.D.
        • Rebecca Raciborski, Ph.D.
        • Ronald G. Thompson, Jr., Ph.D., LCSW
        • Sara J. Landes, Ph.D.
        • Traci Abraham, Ph.D.
        • Angie Waliski, Ph.D.
        • Ellen P. Fischer, Ph.D.
        • Geoffrey M. Curran, Ph.D.
        • Greer Sullivan, M.D., M.S.P.H.
        • Jeffrey M. Pyne, M.D.
        • JoAnn Kirchner, M.D.
        • Joy Reeves Pemberton, Ph.D.
        • Karen Drummond, Ph.D.
        • Kristen M. Viverito, Psy.D.
        • Puru Thapa, M.D., M.P.H.
        • Richard R. Owen, M.D.
        • Teresa Hudson, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
        • Teresa L. Kramer, Ph.D.
      • Postdoctoral Fellowship
        • CeMHOR/HSR&D
        • MIRECC
    • Health and the Legal System (HEALS) Lab
      • Projects in the Health and the Legal System (HEALS) Lab
      • Publications and Media
      • About the HEALS Lab
    • Neurodevelopmental Risk and Resilience Program
    • Research Trials
    • Trauma REsilience & Community Collaboration (TRECC)
      • About TRECC
      • Get Involved
      • Research
        • Current Projects
        • Media
        • Selected Research Publications
      • Resources
        • Measures
        • Tools And Tool Kits
    • Helen L. Porter and James T. Dyke Brain Imaging Research Center
  • Patients and Visitors
    • Art of the Psychiatric Research Institute
    • Mental Health Resources
    • Mission And Vision Statements
    • Social Media
    • Map and Directions
    • Job Openings
    • Faculty and Staff
    • Giving
  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. Psychiatric Research Institute
  3. Clinical Care at the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute
  4. Interventional Psychiatry at the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute
  5. Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive Therapy at UAMS Health

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of mental disorders including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. When medication or other typical treatments aren’t working, electroconvulsive therapy may be recommended.

Electroconvulsive therapy is very effective and works faster than antidepressant medication in improving the symptoms of major depression and suicidal ideation. At the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute, electroconvulsive therapy is one of several interventions we use to treat mental disorders that have not responded to traditional forms of therapy.

Electroconvulsive therapy is done primarily on an outpatient basis. The recovery period from anesthesia is usually about an hour and patients are able to return home with the assistance of a care-giver. It has proven to be successful for patients who are at risk to themselves, and/or are acutely suicidal and need to be stabilized quickly. It can also be used safely for pregnant women who are having significant problems with depression.

Most patients receive six to 12 treatments during their initial series, and the treatments are tapered down in frequency while the patient is monitored for stabilization . Depending on their progress, some come back for follow-up treatments while other patients may remain symptom free. The effectiveness of the therapy and its safety has led to its increased use and success around the world.

Providers can refer their patients for an electroconvulsive therapy consult appointment by contacting the Psychiatric Research Institute at (501) 526-8650 or psychiatry-interventional@uams.edu.

Psychiatric Research Institute LogoPsychiatric Research InstitutePsychiatric Research Institute
Mailing Address: 4224 Shuffield Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 526-8100
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

© 2025 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences