ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a case of a 73-year-old woman who presents with a 6-month history of low mood. She had been tried on fluoxetine but it had little effect. She has denied any self-harm ideation but admits that she can see little point in being alive. Her food intake has gradually diminished and over the last few days she has barely eaten or drunk anything. When she was admitted she was very withdrawn and mute. As for any other procedure where an anaesthetic is required the patient must not have eaten or drunk anything before the treatment. Patients having outpatient ECT should not drive or operate machinery on the day of treatment and patients will normally be observed for at least 4 hours post-ECT, as is usual for any day procedure. Immediate post-anaesthetic care should be provided in an appropriately equipped recovery area by appropriately trained staff.
