Posted by Adam on January 3, 2001, at 18:22:36
In reply to Electroconvulsive Therapy, posted by Bob on January 2, 2001, at 23:12:26
Well, I've had it, so I can say, personally, it worked great for a limited period of time (a month or two), and that it completely obliterated entire days around the time of the treatment, while other memories are crystal clear. What was really creepy is that I was losing memory right away (i.e. a day after a treatment I couldn't remember much of what had happened the day before), but later on, I thought I could remember some things, but couldn't put the memories into context without external hints. It was weird. Amnesia is a Twilight Zone experience, no question.
BUT it was the ONLY thing that I had tried up to that point that made much of a dent in my depression, and a considerable dent at that.
From what I understand, the common protocol is to give a person a pretty robust course of bilateral ECT (meaning seizures are triggered on both sides of the brain), maybe 8-10+ sessions, over the course of as many or more days, and, if there is a good response, follow this up with periodic (~monthly) bilateral or unilateral ECT sessions of only one day. Some people do experience memory difficulties, even with the less extensive chronic treatments (this is less an issue, supposedly, with the unilateral ECT). The severity of the memory problems seems to depend mostly on who you do it to, so it's hard to predict how much of a problem it might be for you.
I've met a couple people for whom ECT is a lifesaver. They feel the memory issues are a good tradeoff for better efficacy and/or the general absense of other side-effects. I found some of the sensations of memory loss and disorientation to be truly bizarre, but they don't seem to be phased by it.
All in all, I'd say it's worth a try. The actual therapy is really not a big deal. You get a stick in your arm, you go under, you wake up with a little gooey gunk in your hair (contact gel for the electrodes, I guess), maybe a whopper of a headache (a good analgesic takes care of that), and, if you have a taste for the unusual and time things well, an opportunity to try something for the first time twice, as you might not have any recollection of the previous trial.
If you try it, keep a daily diary for a real eye-opener, and maybe a nervous chuckle. I did. WEIRDNESS, that's all I can say.
> What is the current school of thought on ECT these days? Is it still generally a last resort treatment? I have read a few things lately saying that it has gotten a bad rap in the past, and that it is often a quite effective treatment - only that it requires maintenance. Of course, there's always the memory problems.
poster:Adam
thread:50792
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/50840.html