ECT

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Would you ever consider electroconvulsive therapy for depression or ADHD?

Hardly anyone does this anymore...it's regarded extremely controversial. No, I wouldn't consider it. I believe there are better ways than volunteeringly letting someone induce a seizure in yourself.

ECT is to people as
KICK(or a good WHACK) is to TV set

Frankly, I think EITHER is STUPID, and EITHER can create more problems than it is likely to solve. BESIDES, I don't trust "treatments" that change names.

ECT will change you, it'll fry your brain, do you want a burger for a brain. Your OK as you are, don't do it.

This is your brain------------------This is your brain after it's been fried___________________
Any questions?

No. I would never do it. I know someone who had it and he is fine now but it took away some of his memories and impacted his personality negatively for a long while afterward. ECT is done for other people's benefit, not for the patient's benefit.

Dunno, ask Lou Reed.

Take a walk on the wild side. No I'm kidding, don't do it

I was "treated" with ECT when I was 16. I do not see the value for something that can be replaced with (more effective) intellectually oriented therapies, perhaps cognitive behavioral. It's exactly like what 2ukenkerl said, a kick to the t.v., hoping something good will happen. Some of my memories were destroyed, my personality was virtually non-existent afterward, and I lost some intellectual capacity. In a drastic emergency, perhaps it is an option. But there are always alternatives. I am not sure I understand the reasons behind treating ADHD with ECT; wouldn't that just make it worse?

I agree. The "informed consent" principle for ECT is completely ridiculous. A patient being considered for this treatment isn't aware of their state of mind enough to know what is being presented to them.

Ernest Hemingway committed suicide after he was given ECT. He said, "It was a brilliant cure but we lost the patient..."

It makes me think of the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".... ouch!

Kindof like they gave the guy a lobotomy or something when the electric shock didn't work? and he was a vegetable from then on.. It made the patient easier to deal but left the guy a walking vegetable.. I'm not saying ECT is THAT bad... but it really does sound pretty scary and it just reminds me of the horror in that movie.. I've never had it and wouldn't... I think it actually kills brain cells, doesn't it?? I think it does more damage than they know..

At times I have been so badly depressed that I have strongly considered it. But I haven't done it so far.

I think I'd consider Prozac or something before ECT... I have been pretty badly depressed at times too... Sunlight, exercise, vitamins, and even chocolate can help alot too. I've just read and heard some pretty scary stuff about it... Maybe neurofeedback could help though.. LENS neurofeedback is something I've been trying to find out more about...

I don't actually suffer from depression.

On a lighter note, an interesting analogy, - a good whack often works wonders for electronic equipment (particularly older equipment) particularly if caused by ‘dry’ solder joints! However no great loss if it does not work.

But that does not mean I would get ECT! I would exhaust nearly all other options first. The treatment of depression has come a long way in the last 10-15 years. I am sure you can find something better.

I would do it - if I had tried all other treatments and nothing would work - I would gladly try ECT.

I have seen it been done - it is not a big deal.

I have spoken to 3 people who have had this treatment - one said she wouldn't be alive without this treatment - she had bipolar - the meds didn't work for her. For her ECT was her lifesaver.

I have talked to a young girl who cut herself - she was desparate for help - she wanted to try ECT.

Another guy told me it helped him in the past - he was ready and wanting another treatment.

I spoke to these people while the waited in the waiting room for their ECT treatment.

It is a common practice and treatment - in the city where I live. People have to give informed consent before being offered this treatment - patients have to understand all possible side effects and potential benefits.

Depression is life threatening.

No, never. I consider ECT the treatment that, more then any other, shows that these doctors really don't know much about what they're doing.