Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses.
In binging and purging eating disorders such as Bulimia, an electrolyte imbalance may result from both excessive vomiting and use of saline or sodium phosphate enemas. When persons vomit regularly, as in Bulimia, stomach acid containing hydrogen ions and chloride ions are lost.
Spurious electrolyte disorders refer to an artifactually elevated or decreased serum electrolyte values that do not correspond to their actual systemic levels. Patients with these disorders do not exhibit symptoms or signs of a given electrolyte disturbance, and no treatment is needed.