Electroconvulsive Therapy Fellowship at the Center for Interventional Psychiatry

TThe Center for Interventional Psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital is a leader in training professionals from around the world in the practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

We offer an intensive, week-long ECT fellowship in the rich environment of the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. The fellowship is led by the center's director, LalithKumar K. Solai, MD.

The fellowship is offered four times a year and leads to CME certification in the practice of ECT.

Enrollment Information

Our program is small and intimate, accepting up to 10 fellows for each session, and offers hands-on training led by clinical professionals. Each participant will come away with a solid understanding of the current standard of care for ECT, the biological mechanisms of ECT, and which patients will benefit, and how to run an ECT practice.

Our program offers comprehensive training on the following aspects of the continuum of patient care:

ECT principles and techniques
APA guidelines for practicing ECT
Outpatient ECT assessments
Preparation and treatment of the patient
Anesthesia
Post-ECT recovery
Review of recent research findings and new developments in the field
Side-effects and management
Risks of and contraindications to treatment

Our program also addresses the operational aspects of an ECT practice through the following topics:

Development of policies and procedures for ECT practices
Management of an ECT service
Personnel, facilities, supplies, licensure, quality assurance
Legal issues

The cost of this one-week course is $2,500 for psychiatrists and $1,250 for residents/fellows. Successful completion of the course provides up to 40 hours of CME credit.

View a sample ECT Fellowship Training schedule (PDF).

Contact the Center for Interventional Psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital

For more information or to schedule an appointment with the Center for Interventional Psychiatry, please call 412-246-5063.