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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bob on January 26, 2002, at 14:48:15
Does ECT reduce anxiety? I read somewhere that it is not effective for that. Kind of suprises me, considering that many docs consider it the best treatment for depression there is.
Posted by OldSchool on January 26, 2002, at 19:43:46
In reply to ECT and anxiety, posted by bob on January 26, 2002, at 14:48:15
> Does ECT reduce anxiety? I read somewhere that it is not effective for that. Kind of suprises me, considering that many docs consider it the best treatment for depression there is.
I havent read much about ECT for anxiety. I know for a fact ECT is not effective for OCD. ECT has a great reputation at treating all types of mood disorders, all subtypes of mood disorders across the board. Also it has uses in treating refractory schizophrenia and also has "off label" uses in treating parkinsons and anti-psychotic drug induced movement disorders. Its also effective for catatonia and NMS.
Probably the two things ECT is best for is treating psychotic depression and manic depression. Its great for both of those things. The severest of mood disorders. Many people dont know this but ECT is great for mania, not just severe depression.
I did recently read that ECT is not that effective for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, in addition to OCD.
Here is my personal opinion. Ive never had ECT but I have read a lot about it and talked about it with my doctors a lot. If your anxiety is tied in with your mood disorder...oftentimes mood disorders and anxiety disorders overlap...then the ECT would probably knock all of it out. But if your main problem is just anxiety, I dont think ECT would be worth a shot. In fact I doubt you could even find a psychiatrist who would agree to ECT if your primary dx was an anxiety disorder.
But again, mood and anxiety disorders frequently coexist and overlap and if thats the case then ECT would probably work.
Oh another thing I recently read was that ECT increases GABA a lot. As GABA increases, so does your seizure threshhold (harder to have seizures). Increasing GABA is good for anxiety disorders. So I guess maybe ECT would be OK for some types of anxiety disorders.
Old School
Posted by bob on January 27, 2002, at 1:24:43
In reply to Re: ECT and anxiety, posted by OldSchool on January 26, 2002, at 19:43:46
>
> But again, mood and anxiety disorders frequently coexist and overlap and if thats the case then ECT would probably work.
I would second that. I've read material recently that says that anxiety and depression go hand-in-hand. If I have gotten relief from a med in the past, the anxiety has abated. I really couldn't tell you what my primary problem is, anxiety, or depression. I can tell you that when I get seriously depressed, I experience anxiety about the future: "How am I going to make it through the day, or the rest of my life?" It seems like I can never understand my response to meds. Sometimes I will be full of anxiety, and I'll drink a cup of coffee, and get stimulated. It won't add to my anxiety, but takes it away. I don't understand it.
> Oh another thing I recently read was that ECT increases GABA a lot. As GABA increases, so does your seizure threshhold (harder to have seizures). Increasing GABA is good for anxiety disorders. So I guess maybe ECT would be OK for some types of anxiety disorders.
I thought an increase in GABA is anxiolytic. Maybe when they say ECT isn't good for anxiety disorders, they are speaking more of situation, and phobic problems - anxiety problems with more specific environmental triggers? The literature I read said it wasn't very effective for "anxiety disorders", but did not specifically say GAD.Thanks for your input, BTW. It's always good to hear someone else's thoughts on this stuff.
Bob
Posted by Blue Cheer 1 on January 27, 2002, at 10:14:48
In reply to ECT and anxiety, posted by bob on January 26, 2002, at 14:48:15
> Does ECT reduce anxiety? I read somewhere that it is not effective for that. Kind of suprises me, considering that many docs consider it the best treatment for depression there is.
I've been told that ECT is effective not only anxiety, but for mood-related OCD symptoms (as described by Rasmussen and others). Comorbidity of OCD and depressive disorders is quite common -- not that it's a reason to have ECT.
Blue
Posted by bob on January 27, 2002, at 13:13:31
In reply to Re: ECT and anxiety, posted by Blue Cheer 1 on January 27, 2002, at 10:14:48
Posted by OldSchool on January 27, 2002, at 21:07:49
In reply to Re: ECT and anxiety » OldSchool, posted by bob on January 27, 2002, at 1:24:43
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> >
> > But again, mood and anxiety disorders frequently coexist and overlap and if thats the case then ECT would probably work.
>
>
> I would second that. I've read material recently that says that anxiety and depression go hand-in-hand. If I have gotten relief from a med in the past, the anxiety has abated. I really couldn't tell you what my primary problem is, anxiety, or depression. I can tell you that when I get seriously depressed, I experience anxiety about the future: "How am I going to make it through the day, or the rest of my life?" It seems like I can never understand my response to meds. Sometimes I will be full of anxiety, and I'll drink a cup of coffee, and get stimulated. It won't add to my anxiety, but takes it away. I don't understand it.Im the same way. Coffee nowadays makes me focus better and it actually makes me feel less depressed in a mild way. I do not get anxious or nervous in the least when I drink coffee...more the opposite. More like more focused and stuff.
>
>
> > Oh another thing I recently read was that ECT increases GABA a lot. As GABA increases, so does your seizure threshhold (harder to have seizures). Increasing GABA is good for anxiety disorders. So I guess maybe ECT would be OK for some types of anxiety disorders.>
>
> I thought an increase in GABA is anxiolytic. Maybe when they say ECT isn't good for anxiety disorders, they are speaking more of situation, and phobic problems - anxiety problems with more specific environmental triggers? The literature I read said it wasn't very effective for "anxiety disorders", but did not specifically say GAD.
>Yep, I was reading this thing about ECT the other day and it said specifically ECT increases GABA which creates an anticonvulsant effect. Good for anxiety probs.
But still, I dont think ECT is used much if at all specifically for anxiety. More for mood disorders and psychosis. But if the anxiety gets knocked out in the process...
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