Posted by Chloe on February 5, 2002, at 19:01:25
In reply to Discovery Channel - Shock Therapy, posted by bob on February 4, 2002, at 21:11:44
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hang in there, Bob
Chloe
poster:Chloe
thread:92888
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/92990.html