ECT.........................!
Question: ECT!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.
Answers:
ECT was rare as a therapy when I did my psychiatry in the 70's!. However it was still in use and one or 2 patients still received it each on the one day a week the unit was set up to perform the procedure!.!.
Not one of the modern antidepressants we take for granted today was available in those days!. Those that did exist were not nearly as effective and had much more in the way of side effects!. Thus many more patients were left with intractable depression and were more often suicidal!.
I never saw a patient harmed by ECT and many were much improved and able to go out in to the community after quite prolonged and miserable stays in hospital, often under section!.
In the last 15-20 years with the new, effective antidepressants, I don't think that I personally have seen a patient remain severe enough that they would have been considered for ECT!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Not one of the modern antidepressants we take for granted today was available in those days!. Those that did exist were not nearly as effective and had much more in the way of side effects!. Thus many more patients were left with intractable depression and were more often suicidal!.
I never saw a patient harmed by ECT and many were much improved and able to go out in to the community after quite prolonged and miserable stays in hospital, often under section!.
In the last 15-20 years with the new, effective antidepressants, I don't think that I personally have seen a patient remain severe enough that they would have been considered for ECT!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I am a child of a former employee of St Crispin Hospital, who assisted this and she was affected by having to do this!. She became a lot more stoic and cruel to her children!. Eventually becoming OCD with regard many aspects of normal body functions!. Rationalising cruelty as "good for you" and acceptable!. I think we can all see now that this is desensitisation of staff, when really it is not acceptable to perform something that makes someone lose part of their mind!. I have also seen the results of the procedure many times on patients, friends and an in-law and this is what I base my opinions on!.
Magstim seems to have a less intrusive idea using magnets (see last link)!.
MOST IMPORTANTLY
If you have signed a consent form, you should be informed that you can change your mind at any stage in the treatment and that, should you do so, the treatment will be stopped!. You should also be told how you can tell staff if you have changed your mind!. UK Law!.
Last but not least "Evolving Minds" clip is a must see:
http://www!.undercurrents!.org/minds/index!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Magstim seems to have a less intrusive idea using magnets (see last link)!.
MOST IMPORTANTLY
If you have signed a consent form, you should be informed that you can change your mind at any stage in the treatment and that, should you do so, the treatment will be stopped!. You should also be told how you can tell staff if you have changed your mind!. UK Law!.
Last but not least "Evolving Minds" clip is a must see:
http://www!.undercurrents!.org/minds/index!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It is one of the reasons I and many others like me -fear going for treatment - all the research shows it doesn't work long term and is destructive - I think it is really hard because people are in such pain and distress that they beg for it as a solution!. I think it is the compulsory nature of it that is frightening and makes psychiatrists with that power over you such threatening monsters!. It is used a lot where I live - they love it!.
There are no cures in psychiatry and they have limited resources and yet somehow have got into this position of being absolute authorities!.
ECT I see as a weapon a punishemnt against the madness that they cannot control except by wiping it out!. the fact that it wipes out parts of the brain and the persona is ignored - in the blind spot!.
I think ECT is a weapon and is madness itself!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
There are no cures in psychiatry and they have limited resources and yet somehow have got into this position of being absolute authorities!.
ECT I see as a weapon a punishemnt against the madness that they cannot control except by wiping it out!. the fact that it wipes out parts of the brain and the persona is ignored - in the blind spot!.
I think ECT is a weapon and is madness itself!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I confess I don't know a lot about it but I will share what I do know!.
Electro-convulsive therapy used to be better known as shock therapy!.
Today the electric shock is less and less sustained than in the "bad" old days of shock treatments!.
Still, they induce convulsions and cause memory loss!.
I had a friend who had it done and he could not remember my name for almost 2 years!. On the other hand it broke the darkest part of his depression and after being on disability for several years he regained most of his memory and finally was able to go back to his career!.
I also had a client who had ECT who was African American and I swear it caused her skin to turn almost white!
If you are considering it please do a lot of research and find a support group for after!.
Praying for you to make the decision that will benefit you the most!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Electro-convulsive therapy used to be better known as shock therapy!.
Today the electric shock is less and less sustained than in the "bad" old days of shock treatments!.
Still, they induce convulsions and cause memory loss!.
I had a friend who had it done and he could not remember my name for almost 2 years!. On the other hand it broke the darkest part of his depression and after being on disability for several years he regained most of his memory and finally was able to go back to his career!.
I also had a client who had ECT who was African American and I swear it caused her skin to turn almost white!
If you are considering it please do a lot of research and find a support group for after!.
Praying for you to make the decision that will benefit you the most!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Having had to help administer it I have to say I find it barbaric and distressing!. The fact that there is no real scientific proof behind it is also alarming!. That said, I have seen several clients improve dramatically when other conventional treatments failed!. Others, not so lucky I'm afraid!. I am glad to say that I have not had to be part of ECT since my days as a Student Nurse!. There are more options available now than ever before, so hopefully it will become obsolete!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Hi
This link to the Mind website offer easy to read and understand information
Making sense of ECT
http://www!.mind!.org!.uk/Information/Bookl!.!.!.
I have worked with clients who have had this treatment!. There does seem to be a link with memory loss when this is administered though to varying degrees!.
One particular client saw this treatment as a 'cure' for severe depression after working for many years as a nurse in the ECT department of the local hospital!. The disappointment when it didn't proved to be was immense, but that client still stands by the benefit of this kind of treatment!.
Hope the information helps!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
This link to the Mind website offer easy to read and understand information
Making sense of ECT
http://www!.mind!.org!.uk/Information/Bookl!.!.!.
I have worked with clients who have had this treatment!. There does seem to be a link with memory loss when this is administered though to varying degrees!.
One particular client saw this treatment as a 'cure' for severe depression after working for many years as a nurse in the ECT department of the local hospital!. The disappointment when it didn't proved to be was immense, but that client still stands by the benefit of this kind of treatment!.
Hope the information helps!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
I've never understood why intelligent smart people would think shocking people would result in them getting better,i think it's more a case of we'll try this and if it works we'll be famous!.Www@Answer-Health@Com