Posted by bob on February 5, 2002, at 23:47:18
In reply to Re: Discovery Channel - Shock Therapy » bob, posted by Chloe on February 5, 2002, at 19:01:25
> I tried to ignore the "negative" or "positive" aspects of the show. I don't know many tv shows that go out advertising such a controversial treatment as ECT.
>I wasn't looking for them to sugar coat it, but I still think it was biased towards the sensational failure aspect.
> The thing that interested me the most was how the women in her mid thirties reacted to ECT under general anesthesia along with muscle relaxants. I was really suprised how much she tensed her face and then became very flushed. I guess I thought the "new" ECT with meds on board meant that you just lied there and your brain convulsed but there was not outward evidence that something was sending an electrical shock through your brain.
Yes, the face thing was a little disturbing.
> So despite what the interviewed doctor's said, good or bad, about ECT, it still looks like a very invasive, traumatic way to "reboot" the brain. I also thought that the female patient really "appeared" worse, after her 7 treatments. Not better. Her affect was dull, she looked more blank, and just seemed more dispondent than before she began the ECT. But, this was just my impression of her post treatments.
Yes, the treatments didn't seem to help her much. I would think that having a series of unsuccessful ECT treatments would leave someone more despondent.> I do think ECT has it's place, much as I thought before I saw the program. But I think it really should be a treatment of "last resort". If you are in a vegative depression (like that poor little 8 year old, for example), or uncontrollably manic/psychotic, I think it should be used. But for severe depression, I would really think twice. I don't think we *really* know on a case by case basis that there is NOT going to be any long term damage. Or any longer term recovery for that matter.
I think it depends on how severe it is, catatonia etc not withstanding. If someone is continually suicidal and does almost nothing from day-to-day for years, and has gone through many med trials, it may be time. If you can't work, and can't take care of yourself, and you've tried many meds, what do you do? I think people like the woman in the show come to a point where they feel it is worth the risk. Obviously there are people who win the lottery, like the tympani player. It just annoys me that so many in the mental health profession tout the high success rates for remission, and the show seemed so bleak. I know it doesn't last and that continued meds or maintenance ECT are necessary, but they didn't even discuss the follow-up for that woman. It leaves you with a bad taste. I guess it just reflects some of my dashed hopes.
> It is a very controversial subject. Life is a daily struggle for me, like it is for most of the folks on this board. But, I don't think there is a "magic bullet" that is going fix our brains in a few treatments. For most people, I think using a various conbination of meds, and therapy is the best that we can do right now. But this is just my humble opinion.Seems like you're right, and I feel that it may be that way for quite awhile.
>
> Hang in there, Bob
> Chloe
poster:bob
thread:92888
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/93035.html