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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
I have moderate depression. Say a 6 on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the worst). I can function, but I don't smile, laugh much, or have much confidence or energy. No luck with meds except Nardil which I came off of and when I went on again it didn't work very well. Is ECT that common these days? Is it too extreme for my case?
Wanting to get better....John
Posted by Cam W. on February 15, 2001, at 17:05:04
In reply to Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative??, posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
John - Personally, I believe that ECT is the best antidepressant that is available. Today's treatments are far removed from the "one Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Days". It is the treatment of choice in pregnant women and the old-old ( >70yrs) by many psychiatrists.
As for psychiatrists, those trained in the 1970s seem to have more of a bias against it than those trained in other eras. I am not totally sure why this is, but I read a study stating this, a couple of years ago.
I would have ECT done if I had refractory depression, but others on this site do not like it. Therefore, this is something to seriously discuss with your doctor.
It does involve a series of treatments, with periodic follow-up treatments to maintain euthymia, but again, I'd do it (not that this really means anything).
Hope this helps - Cam
Posted by Bradley on February 15, 2001, at 18:42:38
In reply to Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative??, posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
Apparantly it helps some people when nothing else would. You have to feel as I do, that ETC is so so BARBARIC!!!!! It is a good indication of how poorly depression is understood. The imbalance in nuerotransmitter theory has been around since the 1950's and it is not any closer to being proven than it was then. It's about time for researchers to pull their heads out and develope proper treatment.
> I have moderate depression. Say a 6 on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the worst). I can function, but I don't smile, laugh much, or have much confidence or energy. No luck with meds except Nardil which I came off of and when I went on again it didn't work very well. Is ECT that common these days? Is it too extreme for my case?
>
> Wanting to get better....John
Posted by kazoo on February 15, 2001, at 19:34:17
In reply to Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative??, posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
> I have moderate depression. Say a 6 on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the worst). I can function, but I don't smile, laugh much, or have much confidence or energy. No luck with meds except Nardil which I came off of and when I went on again it didn't work very well. Is ECT that common these days? Is it too extreme for my case?
>
> Wanting to get better....John^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Greetings to John:
In light of the fact that your asking this question...
In view of the fact that your question is well stated...
With respect to the fact that you're able to say how depressed you are using a scale...
The answer to this: "Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative?" is simple...No.
kazoo
Posted by judy1 on February 15, 2001, at 21:10:49
In reply to Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative??, posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
For all the reasons kazoo stated so well- I would have to agree that you shouldn't consider it at this point. When I was at a 9 on your scale- suicidal and psychotic- that was about all that was offered to me. You sound a long way from that and there are an awful lot of options out there. Good luck- Judy
Posted by judy1 on February 15, 2001, at 23:49:32
In reply to Re: Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative?? » JohnM, posted by judy1 on February 15, 2001, at 21:10:49
You might want to do a search on ECT on this board, I know I asked people's opinions about a year ago and got a lot of feedback. I hope you feel better- Judy
Posted by JahL on February 16, 2001, at 17:33:25
In reply to Re: Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative?? » JohnM, posted by Cam W. on February 15, 2001, at 17:05:04
> John - Personally, I believe that ECT is the best antidepressant that is available.
> I would have ECT done if I had refractory depression, but others on this site do not like it. Therefore, this is something to seriously discuss with your doctor.
Hi Cam.
I am intrigued by yr stance on this issue (with you being a 'drugs' man).
ECT is the only treatment left on offer to me; no psychiatrist here in the UK seems willing or able to take the meds side of things any further.
I was wondering...
IYO is ECT a viable *long-term* option (ie for chronic depressions)?.
Also, would (could?) ECT fix co-morbid conditions such as social phobia/depersonalisation?
Lastly, is there much evidence to suggest ECT is effective in dysthymia-like conditions? Most of the literature talks about its robust effectiveness in psychotic depressions.Thanx v much,
Jah.
Posted by Cam W. on February 16, 2001, at 18:11:31
In reply to Re: Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative?? » Cam W., posted by JahL on February 16, 2001, at 17:33:25
Jah - I work in the community, so my experience with ECT is what I hear from the docs and those who have gone through treatments.
I am not sure that it is good for dysthymia, something tells me it is not as effective, but personally, I don't know. I have heard that it is not more effective than in melancholic depression, than in non-melancholic depression, but overall ECT is the most effective form of therapy for all sub-types of depression, when lumped together (ie more strongly associated with recovery).
Effectiveness of antidepressant treatments (monotherapies) is basically as follows:
ECT > MAOIs > psychotherapy > TCAs > SSRIs > antipsychotics > RIMAs
As for longterm treatment, I know of one lady whose treatments have been ongoing for a few years and then, I can't quantify what she meant by this (ie whether it was on a regular basis after a series or whether she used them for exacerbations).
I'm sorry, but I really have no personal experiences to draw on to answer your questions, so all I know is from what I have read. Perhaps ask your doc his/her opinion on this, because I really can't even make an educated guess on long term ECT treatment. From the literature, it should be effective for chronic major depressive disorder.
FWIW - Cam
Posted by Sunnely on February 16, 2001, at 19:44:49
In reply to Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative??, posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
Hi John,
Careful when you search the net for info on electroshock (electroconvulsive or ECT) therapy. There are a number of sites out there that say nothing but litany of "horrors" of electroshock therapy.
Here's an excellent link to electroshock therapy:
This site is maintained by Max Fink, M.D., the "guru" of the modern ECT. It has FAQs for patient/family and professionals alike.
=========================================
> I have moderate depression. Say a 6 on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the worst). I can function, but I don't smile, laugh much, or have much confidence or energy. No luck with meds except Nardil which I came off of and when I went on again it didn't work very well. Is ECT that common these days? Is it too extreme for my case?
>
> Wanting to get better....John
Posted by Chris A. on February 16, 2001, at 20:17:08
In reply to Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative??, posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
Yes, it is a viable and reasonable alternative, with a safer track record overall than medication (see the medical research). A plea I would make of you is to request thorough neuropsych testing to rule out any neuorological or cognitive impairment in adavance. In my experience the presence of such can indicate that there may be more problems with memory following the treatments. Any pre-existing neurological conditions can make the brain more vulnerable to such.
Blessings,
Chris A.
Posted by JohnM on February 16, 2001, at 20:49:53
In reply to Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative??, posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
Thanks for all the input! Very much appreciated!
Posted by San on February 16, 2001, at 20:57:13
In reply to Is electroshock therapy a viable alternative??, posted by JohnM on February 15, 2001, at 16:14:08
> I have moderate depression. Say a 6 on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the worst). I can function, but I don't smile, laugh much, or have much confidence or energy. No luck with meds except Nardil which I came off of and when I went on again it didn't work very well. Is ECT that common these days? Is it too extreme for my case?
>
> Wanting to get better....John>Six years ago, I had 17 ECT treatments and I can sum it all up in three words: "Permanent Brain Damage." San
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