• 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
    • AR ConnectNow
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Mental Health Resources
      • Substance Abuse Facilities
      • Contact AR ConnectNow
    • Center for Trauma Prevention, Recovery and Innovation
      • About Us
        • Collaborations
        • Our Team
      • In The Media
      • Resources
      • Training & Education
        • Education For The Public
        • Training For Professionals
      • What Is Trauma?
    • Child Study Center
      • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
      • Family Resources
        • Handouts for Parents
        • Books
        • Videos
      • Meet the Team
      • Treatment and Services
    • Interventional Psychiatry
      • Electroconvulsive Therapy
      • Esketamine
      • Ketamine Infusions
    • Neurodiversity Clinic
    • Northwest Arkansas Crisis Stabilization Unit
    • STRIVE
    • The Couples Center
      • Helping Couples Expand Their Love Capacities
      • Interdynamic Couples Therapy
      • SOS for Cabin Fever Couples
      • The Essentials of Sex Therapy
      • 2023 Training Opportunities and Certification Program with Chelsea Wakefield, Ph.D., LCSW
      • 2023 Training Schedule
    • Walker Family Clinic
      • Mental Health Resources
    • Women’s Mental Health Program
    • Center for Addiction Services and Treatment (CAST)
      • 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
      • Opioid Use Disorder
    • Inpatient Units
      • Child Diagnostic Unit
        • Child Diagnostic Unit Videos
      • Women’s Inpatient Unit – 5 North
    • Pulaski County Regional Crisis Stabilization Unit
      • Operation SAVE
    • Neuropsychology
    • Psychiatry Clinic in Fayetteville
  • Education
    • For Current Residents
  • 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
        • Linda Larson-Prior, 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.
        • Carolyn J. Greene, Ph.D.
        • Christopher Long, Ph.D.
        • Corey Hayes, Pharm.D., Ph.D., MPH
        • Eva Woodward, Ph.D.
        • Jacob Painter, Pharm.D, Ph.D.
        • Leah Tobey, PT, DPT, MBA
        • Marcela Weber, Ph.D.
        • Mary J. Bollinger, MPH, Ph.D.
        • 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.
        • 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
    • Helen L. Porter and James T. Dyke Brain Imaging Research Center
      • Childhood Trauma Study
      • Directions to BIRC
      • Events
      • MRI Frequently Asked Questions
      • Prospective Collaborators
      • Prospective Participants
      • Prospective Trainees
      • Publications
      • Media
      • Resources
    • Neurocognitive Dynamics Laboratory
      • Current Studies
    • Neurodevelopmental Risk and Resilience Program
    • Research Trials
  • Patients and Visitors
    • Advisory Board
    • Art of the Psychiatric Research Institute
    • Mental Health Resources
    • Mission And Vision Statements
    • Positions at the Psychiatric Research Institute
    • Map and Directions
    • Faculty and Staff
    • Giving
  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. Psychiatric Research Institute
  3. Clinical Care
  4. Interventional Psychiatry
  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 501-526-8100 or pri@uams.edu.

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

© 2023 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences