Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by capricorn on April 24, 2006, at 19:06:11
Forthcoming broadcast at Infinite Mind - http://www.lcmedia.comECT (Broadcast beginning May 3, 2006) There is perhaps no more polarizing topic in mental health than Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT). Is it something out of Frankenstein, or a modern medical miracle? Perhaps both? Research shows today’s electro convulsive therapy is the quickest, most effective way to treat major depression. But there are risks; for one, nearly everyone experiences memory loss. We’ll investigate the very real pros and cons of electro convulsive therapy, along with the sources of its stigma.
Posted by Caedmon on April 24, 2006, at 20:16:09
In reply to ECT, posted by capricorn on April 24, 2006, at 19:06:11
It sounds like an interesting program.
>>But there are risks; for one, nearly everyone experiences memory loss.>>
I think that the memory loss is variable depending on unilateral v. bilateral ECT as well as length of treatment. Also individual variation. I don't know this for sure but I am wondering how much the depression itself, and/or the anesthetics, could also play a role in memory problems. <shrug>
- C
Posted by willyee on April 24, 2006, at 21:04:35
In reply to ECT, posted by capricorn on April 24, 2006, at 19:06:11
I doubt or hope i wont live long enough <age wise guys lol> TO suffer enough to consider ect.......but i will say if i were having it done id feel much much much better im in this day and age,i can imagine the whole process being very mild compared to the barbaric ones of yesterday,in my state i think u even have to take it to the city council first,i could be wrong on that but i know its not like hey lets try ect.That there maeks me feel better if i were doing it.
Main reason i dont is like the so called medication,which i in turn simply call WATCHED DRUGS they still cant explain to me in enough solid terms what causes emotional disorders,or even what they believe,we have come a long way in treatment yess but in knowledge we hav barly taken a step forward it seems
Posted by Caedmon on April 24, 2006, at 23:38:21
In reply to Re: ECT, posted by willyee on April 24, 2006, at 21:04:35
>> Main reason i dont is like the so called medication,which i in turn simply call WATCHED DRUGS they still cant explain to me in enough solid terms what causes emotional disorders,or even what they believe,we have come a long way in treatment yess but in knowledge we hav barly taken a step forward it seems>>
Yeah, I agree it's not often encouraging. It's like, "Here, we're going to give you a seizure. It seems to help depression. We don't know why. That'll be $10,000."
- C
Posted by med_empowered on April 25, 2006, at 0:14:47
In reply to Re: ECT » willyee, posted by Caedmon on April 24, 2006, at 23:38:21
ECT sucks. I have family members who had it in the 70s (voluntarily at private clinics...they were using some of the newer techniques then) and, I must say, the impression I get for long-term effectiveness isn't all that great. Plus it *can* cause terrible cognitive impairment. I really think of ECT as a barbaric and essentially damaging. Plus, its uber-expensive.
Personally, I think we should get rid of ECT, except in severe cases. And those cases should be treated like psychosurgery is today--there should be a committee to oversee and review all requests. I think a lot of people undergo ECT without really being informed about the risks and the true benefits.
Posted by bigcat on April 25, 2006, at 19:51:51
In reply to Re: ECT, posted by med_empowered on April 25, 2006, at 0:14:47
it did nothing for me. my only true remissions have been from drugs. i'm not a bitter ect horror story hater- it just didn't work.
Posted by scatterbrained on April 26, 2006, at 3:22:01
In reply to Re: ECT, posted by med_empowered on April 25, 2006, at 0:14:47
I was told by a behavioral NEUROLOGIST! to do ect, that it would help with my cognition and that the memory impairment is never long term. Hence, I stopped seeing the moron.
He wouldn't even administer the simplest neurological tests to look into other reasons for my cognitive decline. He was fixed on depression.
Posted by Crazy Horse on April 26, 2006, at 10:21:05
In reply to Re: ECT, posted by Caedmon on April 24, 2006, at 20:16:09
> It sounds like an interesting program.
>
> >>But there are risks; for one, nearly everyone experiences memory loss.>>
>
> I think that the memory loss is variable depending on unilateral v. bilateral ECT as well as length of treatment. Also individual variation. I don't know this for sure but I am wondering how much the depression itself, and/or the anesthetics, could also play a role in memory problems. <shrug>
>
> - CMy depression got HORRIBLE in 1997, nothing worked for me, not even MAOI's, I was very suicidal, my wife was pregnant with our first child, so i had to try something to get better.
Long story short. I was admitted to a large hosp. in Seattle, Wa. and was there for 2.5 mos. I had a total of 24 ECT treatments, i hated them...after a treatment you feel like you've been hit by a truck, one horrible headache!! Anyway, they did help me, I did suffer some memory loss ( mostly stuff that happened prior to hospitalization..sh*t i didn't want to remember anyway) Long term memory loss..no not for me, no cognitive impairment at all. I did come home semi-well, and on a new antidepressent cocktail improved steadily. Would i do it again....NO, at least not unless I absolutely had no other alternatives. Would i recommend it to someone else? If they were horribly depressed, suicidal and nothing was helping them last resort type of thing..YES.
Monte
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