Posted by vwoolf on November 30, 2004, at 13:42:49
In reply to Re: MIND guide to Electroconvulsive therapy, posted by ed_uk on November 30, 2004, at 8:42:31
I underwent ECT in the late sixties. I was severely depressed as a result of incestuous childhood sexual abuse, and this was the first line of therapy that was indicated. To me it felt like an enormous punishment. I was seventeen and was not consulted - my mother signed off all the papers. It left me with a badly damaged memory, even today, of new events. I lost a lot of my longer term past memory. I was left apathetic and totally depressed as soon as I set foot back in my home environment. I feel very strongly that ECT should not be used except as a very last resort. It is invasive and abusive, and was in many ways worse than the original abuse that had caused my depression.
poster:vwoolf
thread:422242
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041128/msgs/422416.html