Posted by Psychquackery on August 25, 2003, at 8:26:28
In reply to Re: TRDepression maybe psychotic depression , posted by Larry Hoover on August 25, 2003, at 4:28:43
> > This article, by noted ECT doctor Max Fink claims that many cases of "treatment resistant depression" may in fact be psychotic depression. Fink explains that TRDepression cannot adequately be treated by antidepressants alone and that the only treatment which results in remission is ECT.
>
> Fink owns the largest manufacturer of ECT equipment. Given his direct profit from the use of these machines, I cannot see anything he writes as unbiased.
>
> LarThe view that ECT is the most potent treatment for severe depression is held widely across psychiatry. Not just among the Max Fink's of the psychiatry world. In fact, my own psychiatrist who does not perform ECT, says the same thing about ECT as Max Fink does in this article. That its the single most effective treatment for severe forms of depression. My own psychiatrist, who has nothing to gain financially from ECT, says he has seen "miracles" from ECT. As in full remissions from the most severe depressions.
Fink has studied the reasons ECT most probably works. Oddly enough, his conclusion centers around the "neuroendocrine" effects of ECT. ECT unlike rTMS and other meek treatments for depression, gets right to the heart of the problem and does it quickly.
Fink's claiming that ECT's effects on the neuroendocrine system is in sync with the current emphasis on the cortisol theory of depression. Which is attracting so much pharmacological emphasis these days.
Wouldnt it be ironic if we had a neuroendocrine "drug" that combats the most severe forms of depression all along? That being old fashioned ECT!!
Igor
poster:Psychquackery
thread:253709
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/253821.html