What class of drugs is administered during Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?

During Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), muscle relaxants are administered to ensure that the patient's muscles are relaxed during the procedure. This is crucial because ECT involves inducing a seizure through electrical stimulation of the brain, and without muscle relaxation, the patient could experience significant physical distress, muscle contractions, and injuries during the seizure. Using muscle relaxants helps to minimize these risks and allows for a safer and more effective ECT session. The goal is to facilitate the process, enabling the medical team to focus on the therapeutic effects of the treatment without the complications that can arise from involuntary muscle tension.

Other classes of drugs mentioned do have their roles in mental health treatment, but they do not pertain directly to the procedure of ECT itself. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and opioids may be relevant in the broader context of managing a patient's condition but are not used during the ECT procedure for the immediate purpose of muscle relaxation.