By skyforbes 
Electroconvulsive Therapy
That said, not everyone reacts the same way to ECT, notes Elizabeth Wassenaar, MD, a regional medical director of the Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center in Denver. She explains that people typically should not drive the day they receive treatment, and some people may opt to take a day or two off from work.
ECT is initially administered three times a week for an average of three to five weeks, says Dr. Wassenaar. After this initial series, ECT treatments are typically given less frequently — twice a week, once a week, every other week, or even less often — she explains, adding that ECT is often covered by insurance.
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Memory loss that’s usually temporary, but rarely permanent
The side effect of memory impairment has raised questions in the medical community about the benefits versus risks of ECT for treatment-resistant depression. But, Wassenaar says, there are ways to lessen the impact of this side effect.
“ECT procedures are evolving, and one can work with their psychiatrist on ways to minimize the side effect [of memory impairment],” she says.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Another option for treatment-resistant depression is TMS, which uses magnetic fields to painlessly stimulate neurons. TMS targets the brain area thought to be involved with regulating moods.
During a TMS session, a person wears an electromagnetic coil on their scalp and receives short and painless magnetic pulses into the brain. A typical session lasts 40 to 60 minutes, and no anesthesia is needed. Most people receive multiple sessions over a few weeks.
Other Brain Stimulation Therapies
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) VNS is a surgical treatment for treatment-resistant depression. It involves placing a pulse generator, which is about as big as a stopwatch, in the upper left side of your chest to stimulate your vagus nerve. The generator is used to send mild electrical pulses through the vagus nerve to the brain stem to help change the way your brain cells function, which is believed to help relieve depression.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) DBS is used to treat movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, and it’s being studied for treatment-resistant depression. It involves surgically placing one or more small wires in the brain, which are connected to a small pulse generator that’s placed in the chest, to stimulate the brain. Your treatment provider would work with you to set a device setting that works best for you and your symptoms.