electric shock therapy
 

pdoc suggested ect yesterday and totally freaked me out. spent half the night researching it and some scary stories out there about both short term and long term memory loss. do not want anything messing with my memory. it is one of the few things i have that i like about myself it is an excellent memory! told him no way, and told next of kin, no way. spent the rest of the night worrying that the choice would not be mine. any help would be appreciated.

I have had ECT twice, so that means 12 sessions each time. Three sessions a week for a month.

It did screw with my memory, still affects me now. If you want to know more PM me. XX

my best friend has had ect.. she said it did make her memory a bit iffy but i honestly cannot tell u how much it has made a difference. shes been put on three 6 months sections so this was a last resort.. but now shes being given home leave and stuff.. its helped her so much.

i guess its different for diff people. maybe speak to your doctor more about it, less sessions could cause less memory loss..?
sorry thought id reply cos i know a lil about it xx

I've been through ECT, and my memory is fine, even including my memory of directly before and after the ECT. Then again, I didn't have an abundant amount of sessions.

Best of luck.

i know if you are concerned about the memory loss you can talk about where the electrical pads are placed, for example if they are bi frontal or on the sides of your forehead it causes more memory loss then if they are placed directly on the front of your forehead.

just to let you know they can never force you to have ect even under a section as it is classed as a surgical procedure.

i'm sorry i dont know much about ect other than that but hope it puts your mind at ease a little. xxx

I would never go near that. It ruined Hemingway - not to mention many others. Seems like something medieval really.

ECT gets a lot of bad press - some of it deserved from the way it was carried out in the past - some of it not.

I would be very careful about researching over the internet - there's such polarised opinion and a lot if crap out there.

I've had ECT - it did affect my short term memory at the time but that sorted itself out, and it wasn;t half a bad as I thought it would be. I was terrified after all the stories you see on the tv, but really its fine. You go in, get the anaesthetic then wake up with a sore head (sometimes / sometimes not)

Obviously it is your decision with your doctor what is the best way forward, I just don't want you to be unnecessarily terrified of it.

I'm very tired so if this doesn't make sense I apologise
x

Mind leaflet on ECT
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/B...+sense/ECT.htm

^^^Like Artychik said.

ECT gets a bad rap and has a HUGE stigma surrounding it, due to it's barbaric approach back in the 30's and 40's. I did I project on this so I've done a bit of research...There have been a lot of advancements as of late. You're not conscious for the procedure, and it's (frankly) a lot safer compared to what it was.

I suggest listening to this interview with Charles H. Kellner: http://psychcast.mblcommunications.com/archives.html

(From the website):
Dr. Kellner is professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, and assistant dean for clinical research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. He is also co-director of the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) service at The University Hospital in Newark with George Petrides, MD, and was editor of The Journal of ECT from 1994–2004. Dr. Kellner’s ongoing research includes studies comparing different ECT types and methods for optimizing maintenance ECT.

You could find current articles at Psychiatric Times and American Journal of Psychiatry that would paint you a more realistic picture of the procedure as well.

I hope I could be of some help.

Edit: Please don't think you are "crazy" because this procedure was suggested to you. It's most commonly used for "treatment resistant" depression - IE, one just doesn't respond well to medication or psychotherapy. Ask your doctor for proper resources, and tell him/her you want to be fully informed before you have the procedure (if at all.) Good luck, and let us know how things go.

The Mental Health Act 2007 says that nobody can force you to have ECT, even if you're sectioned, I think. I am not sure.

from the Mind information:
"The new Mental Health Act 2007 introduces new safeguards for patients: ECT can be given only if you consent and the treatment is appropriate. In addition, if you are over 18, the doctor in charge of treatment or a SOAD must certify in writing that you are capable of understanding the procedure and consenting to it; if you are under 18, a SOAD must certify in writing that you are capable of understanding and consenting to the treatment. If you are not capable of giving consent (i.e. you lack capacity), a SOAD must certify in writing that you are not capable of understanding or consenting to the treatment, but it would be appropriate for the treatment to be given, and giving it would not conflict with any advance directive (a statement about treatment you would not wish to have should you become incapacitated) you previously made, or a decision made by a person who has power of attorney for you, or the Court of Protection. The SOAD must also consult two other mental health professionals, one of whom should be a nurse and the other neither a nurse nor a medical practitioner, and neither of which should be the doctor in charge of your case.
Section 28 of the 2007 Act amends section 62 of the 1983 Act (urgent treatment) so that, when the treatment is ECT, urgent treatment can only be given only when it is immediately necessary to save your life or to prevent a serious deterioration in your condition."


So it is not impossible to be given ECT without your consent, but in very limited circumstances.