What common side effect is associated with electroconvulsive therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment often used for severe depression, particularly when patients have not responded to other treatments. A well-documented side effect of ECT is retrograde amnesia, which refers to the loss of memories that were formed prior to the treatment. This form of amnesia can affect memories that are temporally close to the time of the ECT sessions, and it is generally understood to be a result of the effect that the seizures induced by ECT have on the brain.

The mechanism behind retrograde amnesia in ECT involves the electrical stimulation that temporarily disrupts neural connections. While patients may recover many of their memories over time, some may experience more persistent memory gaps, particularly related to events that occurred shortly before the treatment. Hence, the association of retrograde amnesia with ECT is significant and serves as an important consideration when assessing the benefits and risks of this treatment modality.

The other options, though they might represent symptoms seen in patients undergoing various treatments for mental health issues, are not specifically linked to the effects of ECT. Persistent headaches can occur in various contexts but are not a primary concern according to the literature on ECT. Sleep disturbances can be a broader issue in mental health treatment but are