Posted by Dan Perkins on December 15, 2004, at 14:49:51
In reply to Re: Magnetic Seizure Therapy versus ECT » Dan Perkins, posted by ed_uk on December 15, 2004, at 13:01:23
Good question. After 5 1/2 weeks, with 28 treatments down and only 2 left with absolutely no change in my depression or in anything else, I would first of all have to say that I am already assuming that rTMS was a bust for me.
As far as MST, I would have to do a lot more research on it b/f I decided either way. Specifically I would really want to read first hand accounts from people who have had MST. To my mind, the only way to cut through the hype and bias in the research and reporting on any antidepressant treatment (including MST) is to hear from people who have had the treatment.
For example, I have read tons of positive, promising things about rTMS in news stories and journal articles, but of all the first hand accounts I have read about it, I think only one or two of them had anything positive to say about it.
Despite the positive things I have read about MST, I have yet to see anything first hand (positive or negative) from anyone who has had the treatment.
I think there is a tendancy to think that magnets are no big deal and that there is no harm in them, but they really are quite powerful. The rTMS treatments hurt like hell and MST is, by definition, strong enough to cause a seizure. Also, there is general anesthesia involved. So I wouldn't rush into MST thinking it's no big thing.
I have never had ECT and I'm not sure that I ever would. Frankly, it scares me. It's not the irrational fear of ECT born of misinformation that many people have. I am wary of ECT b/c I have read several first-hand accounts of ECT destroying significant amounts of some people's memory and ruining people's lives. I know that ECT is a godsend for many, but the fact is that it has done a lot more harm than good for some people.
> Would you be interested in trying MST if rTMS doesn't work? Have you ever had ECT?
>
> Regards,
> Ed.
poster:Dan Perkins
thread:429822
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041211/msgs/429970.html