Posted by JohnL on December 24, 1999, at 17:16:02
In reply to ECT Experiences? ( not for me), posted by anna on December 24, 1999, at 16:41:47
From what I understand, ECT is a safe and effective method of relieving various forms of depression. That is especially true if there have already been 3 failures of meds at therapeutic levels. I have heard more than one doctor say they would do ECT first before drugs if they got depressed. Like drugs, it will work or it won't. But it usually works. I think it has a stigma as being something overly serious and dangerous. Sort of the same way some people view Lithium. When I hear ECT, I get this mental picture of Frankenstein being zapped and jolted! :) But I know it isn't like that.
I hear ECT causes short term memory loss that resolves quickly on its own. I think the biggest downfall of ECT is the cost. It involves anesthesia and the works, repeatedly. But it often allows the patient to finally experience remission of their dysthymia, melancholia, severe depression, or psychotic depression after many drug failures. Not everyone of course, but many.
This is all based on things I've read and heard. I have no experience with ECT at all. I get the general sense that a lot of people would be better today if they had tried ECT earlier in treatment. Would I try ECT? Well, if it cost a hundred bucks, plus or minus, yeah, definitely, in a flash. ECT has come a long way to its present high-tech form. I would trust trying it if I had the money. I would be cheering for anyone trying it, because it stands a good chance of providing the person with relief, finally. And promptly. JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:17444
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991212/msgs/17446.html