Posted by pseudoname on July 18, 2006, at 11:12:10
In reply to Anyone had ECT?, posted by Randy Walker on July 17, 2006, at 14:05:55
I had 18 unilateral ECT treatments over 6 weeks when I was about 25 for treatment-resistant unipolar depression (i.e., without mania). It did me zero benefit, but I also had zero memory loss or other problems.
When I was 39, a psychiatric resident insisted that BI-lateral ECT was what I needed for my still-untreated depression. He repeatedly told me that unilateral held no comparison in effect.
(In bilateral, the current goes straight through your head; in unilateral, it goes through only one side, coming out your forehead. Memory problems are more likely with bilateral.)
But I looked up all the stats I could at the time and was far from persuaded that a second attempt, even if bilateral, would be worth it for me.
I agree with C-Horse: don't believe all the hostile hype about ECT, but I also don't think it's "the gold standard" as so many MDs say.
I'm really surprised your docs took you off your meds beforehand! ECT is supposed to be meds-neutral. Many (most?) patients take meds during and even after *successful* ECT, which is sometimes thought to potentiate their effect.
Good luck, Randy.
poster:pseudoname
thread:667778
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060717/msgs/667987.html