Posted by Geezer on June 5, 2003, at 21:40:35
In reply to Re: ECT blues, posted by Merci on June 4, 2003, at 13:40:50
Hi Merci,
I went through your experience about 6 months ago (11 ECT treatments) and can't say they have had any effect at all with the possible exception of making me more sensitive to psychotropic drugs. Prior to ECT I could take max doses of any AD with no effect and stop them cold turkey with no withdrawal. At present I get some small relief from Lamictal, Prozac, and Klonopin but I am a long way from being well. You don't mention your DX - I am Bipolar II and from what I have read the success rate for people like me taking ECT is only 50%, then there is a high recidivism rate. My mother was in the other 50% - she could have a series of ECT and be perfectly well for 10 years with no relapse and no drugs.
As for the papers they gave you - toss them. The same goes for any kind of talk therapy. Talk therapy for sever depression is like standing in an empty bucket trying to pull yourself up by the handle. This is a biochemical-neurologic disorder, unfortunately, psychiatry is still in the "dark ages".
Hope you feel better soon.
Geezer
poster:Geezer
thread:230896
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030604/msgs/231796.html