Posted by Phoenix1 on February 5, 2008, at 18:16:46
In reply to Re: maintenance ECT, posted by bleauberry on January 29, 2008, at 17:11:51
> > How come people on maintenance ECT only receive a couple of treatments per month? Wouldn't you need more than that?
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> Nobody needs ECT. Humans have never had an ECT deficiency.
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> I would like to follow up on the post by AdamCanada. My experience is similar. Devastating brain changes or damage in terms of cognitive and social skills are evident. Only two things were not affected. My guitar playing, which is a gift from God that He protected and enhanced, while everything else got damaged. And my ability to love. Besides those two things, all else in terms of physical and mental took a turn for the worse after ECT.
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> Maintenance ECT might be ok for someone confined to prison for life, who is rowdy and uncontrollable. Sizzle some of their brain cells to bring them down a few notches.
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> I can't believe the hype and the...geez, here it goes again...I can't think of the word...uh..hmmm...oh yeah, scandel of ECT.
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> If anyone thinks they need ECT, what they really need is a better doctor. ECT is miserable copout for someone who knows not what to do.
>
>I think you need to be careful when you say "nobody needs ECT". One can't deny that it causes remission for some people with severe, refractory, drug resistant depression. It's a serious "end of the line" treatment that should be reserved for only the most dire situations, but it has it's valid place in psychiatric treatment. And you're right, nobody has an "ECT deficiency". But no one with ovarian cancer has a cisplatin (chemotherapeutic drug) deficiency and it sure helps some of them survive. But it can cause permanent nerve and kidey damage at the same time. Same for ECT for many people, life saving, but with permanent consequences.
Maybe we should all think twice before we arbitrarily condemn a treatment that has helped some people survive a brutal, life-threatening disease. How do you think those people feel when one says "nobody needs ECT"?
Yes, there are serious consequences that should be discussed in advance, but for many people, it's worth the risk. And it really should come down to a risk/benefit analysis. There are tons of examples like this in medicine.
Phoenix
poster:Phoenix1
thread:809417
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080124/msgs/810909.html