Considering ECT (electroconvulsive therapy)? Compare it with Spravato

ECT can help people with severe depression. Before you start ECT treatment, see how it compares with Spravato, an FDA-approved option for treatment-resistant depression that needs no anesthesia.

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ECT vs. Spravato at a glance

ECT

Electroconvulsive therapy
  • What it isA brief, controlled electrical stimulus given under general anesthesia with continuous monitoring.[1]
  • ScheduleOften two to three sessions a week for several weeks.
  • Each visitIncludes anesthesia and time to recover afterward.
  • Pace of reliefMany people improve during the course, some within the first few treatments.[1]
  • Side effects to discussTemporary confusion and memory effects are possible.[1]
  • Often considered forSevere depression, depression with psychotic features, or when rapid relief is urgently needed.

Why people considering ECT ask about Spravato

No anesthesiaYou stay awake and are monitored on-site for about two hours.
Two visits a week to startTreatment begins twice weekly, then tapers.
FDA-approved and coveredSpravato is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and covered by most major plans.

ECT remains an important treatment, especially for severe or psychotic depression, and neither ECT nor Spravato helps everyone. Lumin Health doesn't offer ECT. Our psychiatrists can help you weigh whether ECT or Spravato is the better fit for you.

Spravato can cause sedation, dissociation, and increases in blood pressure, and is available only through a restricted program with on-site monitoring. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.

  1. UK ECT Review Group. Efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy in depressive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2003;361(9360):799-808. PubMed
  2. Popova V, et al. Efficacy and safety of flexibly dosed esketamine nasal spray in treatment-resistant depression (TRANSFORM-2). Am J Psychiatry. 2019;176(6):428-438. PubMed
  3. Daly EJ, et al. Efficacy of esketamine nasal spray for relapse prevention in treatment-resistant depression (SUSTAIN-1). JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(9):893-903. PubMed
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Logo for Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Health Plan, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditionsLogo for United Healthcare, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditionsLogo for Aetna Health Insurance, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditionsLogo for Medicare Health Insurance, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditionsLogo for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditionsLogo for Cigna Health Insurance, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditionsLogo for Anthem Health Insurance, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditionsLogo for Optum Health Insurance, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditionsDoes Mass General Brigham Health Plan cover ketamine therapy?Logo for Evernorth Health Services, covering esketamine and Spravato therapy in the Boston and Bethesda, MD area for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions

Insurance-covered esketamine (Spravato) treatment in Boston

Lumin Health accepts Medicare and most private insurance plans offered in Massachusetts, including: Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Cigna, Evernorth, Harvard Pilgrim, Optum, and United Healthcare.
95%

of Lumin Health patients have Spravato covered by insurance

Most pay only a co-pay or deductible.

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Ketamine treatment led by psychiatrists at Lumin Health – decades of experience, thousands of treatments delivered.

Board-certified psychiatrists screen for medication interactions, monitor vitals, and coordinate with your existing care team.
We specialize in coordinating care for people with complex medical histories.
The Lumin Health medical team
Our team of academically-affiliated psychiatrists and clinicians bring deep expertise to ketamine and esketamine treatment. As specialists in esketamine (Spravato) and ketamine therapy, we provide safe, effective care with rigorous protocols and personalized treatment plans.
The Lumin Health concierge team
Our patient concierge team handles the entire process: insurance verification, scheduling, and intake. Our team looks forward to connecting you to ketamine treatment and answering your questions about ketamine and Spravato. We handle the details so you can focus on getting better.
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Right arrow | Lumin Health | 5.0 star insurance-covered ketamine therapy and esketamine (Spravato) treatment for depression, anxiety and PTSD in Boston, MA and Bethesda, MD
Benjamin Yudkoff, MD, MA
Co-Founder
Chief Medical Officer
Instructor in Psychiatry
Harvard Medical School
Matthew Mosquera, MD, MS
Regional Medical Director
Boston, MA
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Harvard Medical School
Aakash Sathappan, MD
Site Medical Director
Brookline, MA
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Michael Knable, DO, DFAPA
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Samaneh Keshavarz, MD
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Trishan Panch, MD, MPH
Executive Chair and Chief Strategy Officer
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Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

5-star expert ketamine and esketamine (Spravato) treatment

As the top rated ketamine therapy center in Boston and Maryland, we’re honored by our
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Lumin Health's comforting environment for ketamine therapy

Each treatment session takes place in a private suite designed for focus and calm. You're monitored throughout by clinical staff, with everything you need to stay comfortable during the session — blankets, eye masks, and refreshments. The environment is intentional: structured to support treatment, relaxed to let the treatment work.  
Natural light, plant life, and comfort are front and center in Lumin Health's ketamine treatment rooms.The outside of a treatment room at Lumin Health, delivering ketamine and Spravato therapySome plants, natural light, and detailed fixtures as part of a ketamine therapy treatment room at Lumin Health.Where the therapy at Lumin Health takes place

Esketamine (Spravato) treatment could begin in 7 days

Step 1

Get in touch with Lumin Health
Book a free consultation through our online calendar or call us at 617-863-8810. Our team is ready to discuss how Spravato (esketamine) program can help you.

Step 2

Intake call & insurance coordination
Our clinician will assess your needs and discuss treatment options. We’ll address any questions about Spravato (esketamine) treatment costs and insurance coverage, and will handle all insurance coordination.

Step 3

Scheduling & getting ready
We’ll onboard you and make you comfortable with your plan. We’ll schedule your preferred times and locations, so you can access the best Spravato treatment near you.
You’ll soon be on your way to feeling better!
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ECT and Spravato: common questions