Posted by Cam W. on May 9, 2000, at 23:42:19
In reply to Re: Fred, posted by KarenB on May 9, 2000, at 22:49:59
While preparing for a presentation to public health nurses on depression during pregnancy and postpartum, I came across many journal articles, both for and against ECT. All of the latest ones (last 2 to 3 years) consider ECT to be the best and safest antidepressant therapy we have.
ECT is the treatment of choice in pregnant women with major depression. The high levels of cortisol in a pregnant mom's blood stream do more damage to the baby than either ECT (and it's prep meds) or the SSRIs. ECT is also the treatment of choice in the old-old (>75 yrs).
One article researched psychiatrists' views on ECT worldwide. The findings were that if a psychiatrist was trained in the U.S. in the 1970s, they were less likely to use or recommend ECT. European psychiatrists use it routinely.
The stigma surrounding ECT comes from Hollywood. Movies like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Snakepit" paint a dismal picture of this treatment. Granted, in the past, currents were too high and muscle relaxants weren't used. Even today, seeing someone getting an ECT treatment gives me the shivers, but I am told (especially by the people with refractory bipolar disorder that I have presented to) that, other than some amnesia and sometimes a headache, this these treatments have literally saved their lives.
Fred, I am not trying to discount your experience, especially the part about 'forced treatment'. I have not heard of anyone in my area, who wasn't a danger to themselves and not refratory to all medication, to be forced to have an ECT. I actually have never heard of anyone being forced, but then again, I've never asked.
Fred, I really feel for you about your bad experiences. It must have been awful.
Sincerely - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:32651
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000508/msgs/32991.html