Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is available for both hospitalized patients and outpatients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Formerly known as "shock therapy," modern day ECT bears little resemblance to its frightening and barbaric presentations in the media. ECT is the most effective treatment for severe depression. Patients who have failed numerous other treatments for their depression usually respond to a course of ECT. Looking at total cost, ECT may be less costly than other treatments when considering fewer and shorter hospitalizations and the ability to return to work.
The goal of the ECT service is to provide the best ECT available for patients and their families. The treatment team works together in a collaborative, multidisciplinary manner to provide treatment that is both the highest quality and the most cost effective. The most up-to-date, state-of-the-art equipment is used in our treatment.
ECT Staff
The Department of Psychiatry works in close collaboration with the Department of Anesthesiology to ensure that the ECT services received by the patient are the finest available. The Medical Director of ECT, Barry Alan Kramer, MD, has more than 30 years experience in providing ECT in a number of settings. Dr. Kramer regularly publishes in peer-reviewed medical journals about ECT, and he has spoken extensively to medical and lay audiences about ECT. Other psychiatrists, who meet specific academic and clinical criteria, are also granted privileges to administer ECT. Nursing services are coordinated by Kerri Clark, RN, who has a team of nursing staff under her supervision that guarantees that the patient's care takes place as smoothly as possible.
The entire staff strives to make the service as user friendly as possible for the patient, family and referring physician.
ECT Services
ECT services include:
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Medical evaluation
- Inpatient and outpatient ECT
- Patient and family support
Our Location
The ECT service is located on the third floor of the Thalians Mental Health Center (8730 Alden Drive, Room C-302). Point-to-point driving instructions and parking information are available. Please note that the closest parking lot is Lot 2, adjacent to the Steven Spielberg Building.
For More Information
For general information about ECT or for more information about ECT services at Cedars-Sinai, please call:
| Barry Alan Kramer, MD |
| Medical Director of ECT |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center |
| Thalians C-306 |
| Los Angeles, CA 90048 |
| Phone: (310) 423-4014 |
| Fax: (310) 423-3377 |
| Kerri Clark, RN |
| Phone: (310) 423-6076 |
For information on other services from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai, please call (310) 423-3411.
