A Family Member Of Mine Was Given Electric Shock Treatment Over Twenty Years Ago For Depression?

November 21st, 2009

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8 Responses to “A Family Member Of Mine Was Given Electric Shock Treatment Over Twenty Years Ago For Depression?”

roxanneb on November 22, 2009 5:34 am
ECT is still not fully understood but is thought to have something to do with re-aligning the neuro-transmitters in the brain.
It is still used in the UK today but is under much stricter control in terms of who receives it. It is given to people who have not been helped with any other method such as medication and other therapies.
People receiving it are given a general anaesthetic and have a muscle relaxant. It is nothing like it is portrayed in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest today.
It works for many people even today showing a good level of positive response.
A common side effect is memory loss, short and/or long term. I have never heard of it changing someones mood to become bad tempered although it may be possible.
fanella on November 22, 2009 11:50 am
its what they thought was best at the time we seem to have moved on from there thank god but there will still be people out there who went through it
Canon Digital Camera Powershot on November 22, 2009 4:33 pm
This can be very difficult for our society to understand as we have changed so much over the twenty years. Unfortunately there are still people who are suffering from this (treatment??), and there is no way to help these poor people. I hope they find peace and a way to get through their ordeals.
jizzumon on November 22, 2009 5:11 pm
This treatment is still used today and my nan had electric shock treatment for her depression and it helped her … they were considering giving my sis the same treatment… Maybe not being able to have kids affected her more than she ever let on and became that way ….
confused on November 22, 2009 6:24 pm
Funnily enough, there are people who have benefited so much from previous ECT sessions that when they sense their depression is spiralling out of control again, they actually request to have it … And it works for them … I’ve witnessed this first-hand … during my time working in psychiatry …
HOWEVER … it seems to have caused more harm than good in your relative’s case … which is very sad … and I’m sorry to hear that x
Roy M on November 22, 2009 6:55 pm
they didnt know any better, it is still used but works mostly on patients who are not really sick if you know what i mean
giovanni on November 23, 2009 12:51 am
It sounds to me like yore talking about ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy). When it was used, as you say, 20 years ago, it was notfully understood how the treatment effected the brain or anatomy,other than its profound psychological effects. I can understand your desciption of the treatment as barbaric, however patients ar often eleviated of depressive symptoms rather than making the symptoms worse, unfortunately this just may sometimes be the case. Fortunately i believe that ECT is now illegal in ENgland and can no longer be usd, however it is still allowed in other countries, ie the USA
riptide_ on November 23, 2009 6:17 am
I offer a different viewpoint on this. I have had ECT a couple of times and it has helped tremendously.
Years ago, they did not know what they were doing. They did not give muscle relaxants and the shocks were longer. Today, the shocks are brief and a muscle relaxant is given to prevent the body from having a seizure.
Most people that have had this treatment today will tell you, it saved their lives. Science has come ALONG way and we understand more about how to properally give the shocks.