Does anyone know anything about ECT?

[cheekychops03]

My psychiatrist has recommended this to me but I am terrified and I don't have anyone to talk to about it.

My aunt had it in the 1960s.

I have no experience of it, but I do know that it can have benefits in severe depression, particularlty if it isn't responding to drug treatment and therapy. Patients are given anaesthetics, and don't 'know' that it has happened IYSWIM. Somepeople find it very beneficial, some are very negative.

It 'worked' for my aunt, who was never depressed in all the time I knew her, and she just died at the ripe old age of 88, having lived a long, happy and fruitful life.

from wht i recall modern ECT is extremely effective, without side effects and heavily endoresed by those who use it (in the main). It's also i would suspect a scary thing to face,
\link{http://www.mind.org.uk/\try here}

Have sen on some sites now that it CAN have some side effects- but I would read the MIND site, speak to them and make your mind up afterwards. Some of the 'no ECT' sites seem biased, and I won't recommend them here. MIND are a good charity, used tor ecommend to our psychiatric patients when I was nursing.

HTH

I have worked on an acute unit not recently but about five years ago.

My experience is that ECT was only considered for a really deep seated depression that had been treated in other ways. I think it was sometimes used where the person was so deeply depressed that they couldn't benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy or the 'talking' treatments either.

One woman sticks in my mind - I saw her for months on the ward, on a section, and was told she had been senior in the civil service, very 'together', but when I saw her she was wringing her hands constantly and shuffling from foot to foot and was tearful nearly all the time. After ECT, she was transformed and I could for the first time see her as the professional woman she had been - she was discharged quite soon.

I know this is not scientific research for you but thought it might be interesting to hear about someone's experience of it. I'm sure there are negative experiences to but on this occasion it certainly worked - I left the ward though so have no idea whether this was a very long term change in this woman. I hope so.

I'm sure it must be a terrifying thing to contemplate though. Is there an advocacy service in your area? Your local MIND may offer this sort of service where someone could come with you to talk to the Dr about it and get all the info you need, to support you along the way.

Good luck, hope things go well for you wahtever happens.

My grandmother had it about 15 years ago - she was severely depressed and refusing food, drink and medication whilst recovering from septicaemia, so they had to treat her urgently. It seemed to work pretty well for her. Agree with mb - you are put under a General Anaesthetic so won't be awake when the ECT is happening. IIRC it can cause side effects. I think you need to do some reading about this. As well as Mind website, would also look at Depression Alliance website and Royal College of Psychiatry websites for further information.