This morning I had my second consecutive day of ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy. Many people I've encountered don't realize that "shock" therapy is still utilized today. While the idea of it may conjure up images of people strapped down to beds and shocked in mental hospitals, modern ECT is unlike the 1960's horror image it once was.
In its early days, ECT utilized higher voltage shocks without the patient even being anesthetized. It's early origins have created a stigma that persists to this day.
ECT is performed in cases of extreme or treatment-resistant depression, or in individuals who would likely be unable to tolerate some of the severe side effects of anti-depressants. Individuals with mania or extreme aggression are also candidates for ECT.
The typical process from admission to discharge is about 2 hours. An IV is placed in your arm. The anesthesiologist does a brief check up with you. When the doctor is ready to begin, a face mask is used to deliver the anesthesia. In my case, an additional substance is put in my IV. This is known as ketamine or "Special K." This drug is of the same class as the street drug PCP and can be used purely for anesthesia or as an add on. Electrodes are placed on your head, behind your ears, and on your chest. A brief seizure is induced.
There are several drawbacks to ECT. Memory loss can occur but is usually temporary. The memory effects tend to be more severe with increased age. Treatments are also given very early in the morning (with mine being at 5AM), because patients must have empty stomachs to avoid vomiting. Extreme fatigue last for several hours up to a day after treatment. The average cost per treatment is $800, with most decent insurances covering 80%. The number of treatments a patient will require is unknown and many insurance companies will start with a limit that you must fight in order to get more. However, ECT has the best success rate of all the treatments for cases of severe depression.
Modern ECT is much safer and less scary than its early days. If you have experienced extended depression, mania, manic-depression, or aggressive tendencies and have not responded well to treatments, I implore you to research ECT. It may change your life.
Did you know that shock therapy was still a current practice? Would you consider this as an option if you had a medical condition that it could help?
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Comments (34)
Can it be used for eating disorders and/or anxiety problems?
Yes I've seen it performed a handful of times under sedation, it worked very well for those individuals
I had no idea about any of this. Very interesting. I'm just confused as to how this helps severe cases of depression. What is it about ECT that makes it successful? Could you explain?
I have depression but I would never consider this.
Just so you know: the old version of shock therapy is still used today at "ex-gay" therapy places. Hate groups like the FRC, Focus on the Family, Exodus International, etc. make use of the old version of shock therapy to try to turn gay people straight. It's just one of the many abuses that anti-gay hate groups perpetrate against the gay community.
This practice is still unsafe. And I don't think you explored that very much. Just the mere use of anesthesia is unsafe. Let alone them sending electrical impulses to your brain. And Ketamine? Frequent use can cause psychosis. I'd rather have depression. I know I took GHB for my Narcolepsy, another "street drug" and I ended up psychotic and I never recovered from that. I will be on anti psychotics for the rest of my life. And I don't even have a psychosis disorder.
I have been offered ECT in the past. I also have had severe depression. Doctors sort of hand it out like it's candy. If their hospital offers it, it's like it's suddenly an option. When I was 19 I was offered it. I was 19, I needed therapy, not ECT. The doctor specialized in it, so of course it was an option. I was offered again in March and I wasn't even depressed. I had PTSD. The doctor again specialized in it. I'm lucky I'm not easily persuaded into things by people even if they have an M.D.
I use Electrostimulation at night to help me with my nightmares. It was approved and subscribed by my doctor. What can I say ? It works. Shock Therapy is definitely not forgotten and in fact is currently in use today. Φ ≡
I had several of them a number of years ago. It was a last resort because I was suicidal. They're not painful unless the anesthesiologist is bad at putting in the needle. Yes, you are sleepy and groggy and have a sore throat afterward. Your memory is definitely impaired. I didn't dare go anywhere by myself for some time afterward because I might forget how to get home--that went away. But there are blanks in my memory that have never been filled, which is a very strange feeling.
I know that my doctor used them as a last, last resort and that's how it should be. Any time a doctor recommends them for something other than severe, severe depression, you should get a second opinion!
@interludeB@xanga - They don't understand how/why it works.
@FallenSafely@xanga - I was very unhappy with the first doctor and ended up switching, so now I'm no longer receiving ketamine. I felt that the first doc was very reckless and hell bent on doing as many treatments as possible. I wasn't pressured into ECT by anyone; I actively sought out this treatment. I've been on every major class of anti-depressant and have had over 20 medications in the last 10 years. I sought ECT because I was fed up with trying meds.
@whyzat@xanga - I have migraines and the ECT aggravates it. Needles don't bother me. My body and jaw do tend to hurt for about 36 hours post-treatment.
I did know it was still in practice, actually. If it had actually helped the 'small' number of people that I've know who had it done, I would do it. However, it did not help them.
oh this is the treatment they gave Carrie on Homeland to treat her bipolar disorder. I thought they were exaggerating for the sake of tv but I guess this actually happens.
@apples2apples - Yes, however the research is more limited. Often, anxiety and eating disorders are comorbid with depression.
@secretbeerreporter@xanga - how do they get away with doing that? that's like literally torture
my friend's dad had it done, didn't really benefit from it, and he had memory loss. forgot they had a dog, forgot his daughter was engaged, big things like that. i think once they explained stuff to him, it kind of got better. but he has severe depression, probably the worst of anyone i know.
@x_papergirl@xanga - All in the name of religion. That's one of the biggest drawbacks of having "freedom of religion" and is one of the many reasons why I, in general, oppose complete and total freedom of religion.
Wow, that's interesting to read about how it's still in practice and the details of what's changed. I'm glad it's working for those who need it. :)
Years ago my mother got ECT, It was a last resort as she had been in and out of hospitals for years due to self injourious behaviors. It was a very hard thing for me as her child to cope with I was about 17 at the time. She was hospitalized for the duration, but I saw her everyday. She lost touch with everything for months she asked how my father was after having been divorced for 8 years. At times she would seem confused when I would first come until she realized I was her daughter. She was released from the hospital still in this fog, she could not cook her own food, for a while she even had to be fed, showered she didn't remember how to take care of herself. After a coulpe months she came back to us but still couldn't drive are do certain things.
As most people who have ECT she had a problem with her memory even years down the line, it mostly effected her past memories after her haze lifted she was still able to make new memories. Different people who delt with my mother had different opinions on if it was worth it or not, the people in the DBT group said they noticed a slight change. In my opinion I didn't really but I had lived with her all my life and being bipolar and borderline myself the mood swings and changes in attitude and behavior were normal to me. It was hard her care was left to me and my sister it was alot to handle even though I had been doing it for years.
I worry about my future with how everything with my mom was, and us having the same illnesses everyone in my family has some sort of mental illness. If I ever got that bad I still don't think I would do it. I don't think I could after everything I saw. That and even if some people said it did help her the fact of the matter is it didn't stop anything. She was still sick, she still hated herself, she was still in and out of the hospital, still trying to kill herself. 4 years after ECT my mother killed herself. I do not think she did this because of the ECT but I don't think it helped.
I have Bipolar 2 Disorder, and very much struggled with my illness. I had no luck with tranquilizers like Geodone or Clozapine, or SSRIs. Luckily I responded to an alternative form of Bipolar treatment, which is to use anti-convulsants instead of anti-depressants or mood stabilizers. I still have awful sleeping problems, but ce la vie. I'll just say this, the disorder I live with is much uglier and far more horrifying than ECT.
@mEE - No way, bro. Homeland does an amazing job of showing what it's really like for a functional bipolar. They did exaggerate her mania. Three days off Clozapine wouldn't make you jump out of your sister's care and compare life to a garden, but I don't think they knew that. Claire Danes wrecks it, I just think the show is too slow paced and a little boring. Shock therapy works, because it literally shocks you straight. It applies electricity directly to your Limbic System and calms you down for a period of 6 weeks to 10 years.It slows your thoughts down (like a tranquilizer would, only immediately). It's just extreme, and you really shouldn't do it if you're showing any real progress on meds.
do you live in the UK?
does it work on politicians?
I had severe depression for years. I fixed the majority of it just by switching from processed shit to paleolithic foods. Everyone should try that before Big Pharma or anything else.
@secretbeerreporter@xanga - I did not know this at ALL! That's horrible. From what I understand, these programs are for minors as well? I wish I had more words to explain how horrified this makes me.