Posted by bob on January 27, 2002, at 1:24:43
In reply to Re: ECT and anxiety, posted by OldSchool on January 26, 2002, at 19:43:46
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> But again, mood and anxiety disorders frequently coexist and overlap and if thats the case then ECT would probably work.
I would second that. I've read material recently that says that anxiety and depression go hand-in-hand. If I have gotten relief from a med in the past, the anxiety has abated. I really couldn't tell you what my primary problem is, anxiety, or depression. I can tell you that when I get seriously depressed, I experience anxiety about the future: "How am I going to make it through the day, or the rest of my life?" It seems like I can never understand my response to meds. Sometimes I will be full of anxiety, and I'll drink a cup of coffee, and get stimulated. It won't add to my anxiety, but takes it away. I don't understand it.
> Oh another thing I recently read was that ECT increases GABA a lot. As GABA increases, so does your seizure threshhold (harder to have seizures). Increasing GABA is good for anxiety disorders. So I guess maybe ECT would be OK for some types of anxiety disorders.
I thought an increase in GABA is anxiolytic. Maybe when they say ECT isn't good for anxiety disorders, they are speaking more of situation, and phobic problems - anxiety problems with more specific environmental triggers? The literature I read said it wasn't very effective for "anxiety disorders", but did not specifically say GAD.Thanks for your input, BTW. It's always good to hear someone else's thoughts on this stuff.
Bob
poster:bob
thread:91705
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020124/msgs/91737.html