ECT and Twin Pregnancy.

The combination of pregnancy and affective psychosis produces a complex treatment problem. The mother and fetus can experience significant risks from the disorganized behavior associated with mental illness as well as from the medical treatments for the illness. ECT has been recommended as a safe alternative. This article reports on ECT used for a patient pregnant with twins. Multiple gestation compounds the problems encountered with single pregnancies. The report details techniques to monitor fetal well-being. The case illustrates the safe use of ECT when the fetuses and the pregnancy itself are at high risk.