Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Should or Shouldn't You?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): should or shouldn’t you? This maybe a biased post, because I did not have a good experience with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). I’ll try to keep an open mind. I had a lot of bad influences when I was having shock therapy.

For one thing, right before I was supposed to go for a treatment, my psychiatrist informed me that she’s dropping me as a patient because of insurance reasons. So nonetheless, I cried all the way up until they put me out. I have not had good experiences with doctors.

Another circumstance was my husband at the time. He has a bad temper and kept harassing everyone at the doctor’s office. He thought ECT would cure me immediately. That’s not how it works, if it works at all. Needlessness to say, it didn’t work!

For those who don’t know, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure done under general anesthesia. During this procedure, small electric currents pass through the brain, intentionally causing a brief seizure. ECT seems to change brain chemistry, and these changes can quickly improve symptoms of certain mental health conditions.

Electroconvulsive Therapy Used For

Shock Therapy for Depression

I believe using ECT treatment was for the depression. None of the medicines I took were working. I was having a hard time coping with hopelessness and worthlessness feelings, so I was suicidal all the time. Each time I did the treatments, I secretly prayed it would work, but there was disappointment after disappointment.

I was looking for some severe depression relief, but I never completely entrusted each doctor I had. It seemed like I was getting further and further away from a treatment that worked.

Years later, after being sick of the depression and the feelings that go along with it, I decided to help myself. Ever so slowly, I brought myself out of the depression. I used the techniques each therapist had taught me, and they worked. CBT, DBT, Exposure Therapy, and many more. I convinced myself that I could do it, and I succeeded.

ECT for Bipolar

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): should or shouldn’t you? I had bipolar at the time, so the ECT should have helped, but of course, it didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, electroconvulsive therapy has helped many people, not me. I guess I expected it to be my medical cure, but it failed.

My bipolar became worse even though I took lithium. I spent money on things that I truly didn’t have money for. Back then, it was music (CDs). I had a monster collection. I would buy the reduced CDs. Therefore, I figured I couldn’t express my feelings outright, so I would do it through music.

Then I turned to clothes. I still have all those clothes I had bought 10 years ago, thinking that I would eventually fit into them. There still hanging there.

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ECT for Schizophrenia

Compared with medications, it starts to work faster (often within a week), especially with older people. ECT can reduce the chances of relapse as long as you undergo follow-up treatments. In one study, 77% of people with schizophrenia responded favorably to ECT.

Since I had late-onset schizophrenia, I don’t think I would try ECT for it, because it didn’t work for the depression. Plus, because the side effects are incredibly horrendous, but I’ll talk about that later on.

ECT for Anxiety

I might have tried electroconvulsive therapy for anxiety when it first appeared. I believe the anxiety was with me all throughout my upbringing, it was just more pronounced in my later years. Back then, I experienced it, but thought it was normal.

After all, anxiety is a natural response. You have it for a few minutes, then it disappears. But when it is more pronounced and hangs around for long periods of time, then you know something isn’t quite right.

I didn’t figure that out till I was much older. Although the anxiety is under control now, I might have considered ECT for it a few years back when it was at its worst.

ECT for Parkinson’s

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): should or shouldn’t you? Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be an affective treatment for both psychiatric and motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD):

Psychiatric symptoms: ECT can significantly improve depression and psychosis in patients with PD.
Motor symptoms: ECT can improve motor symptoms in patients with PD, including the wearing-off phenomenon. In one study, 14 out of 25 patients with PD and psychiatric symptoms also experienced at least temporary improvement in motor function after ECT.
Cognitive functioning: ECT does not worsen cognitive functioning in patients with PD.

I would definitely consider ECT for my Parkinson’s disease, because of the amount of pain I’m experiencing everyday. If anything could help, God give it to me. Although, through all the symptoms, I try to keep my spirits high. That’s not always the truth, but I refuse to fall back into a depression.

PTSD Electroconvulsive Therapy

My PTSD isn’t as strong as it used to be. I believe the anxiety mixed up in all that was fueling the PTSD. Now that I have reduced the symptoms of anxiety, my PTSD has slowed down.

Evidence

An analysis of five studies found that ECT had a small but significant effect on reducing PTSD symptoms, including intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Other studies suggest that ECT may be more effective if patients recall their trauma memories right before each ECT session.

Mechanism

One hypothesis is that ECT reduces PTSD symptoms by impairing the reconsolidation of reactivated, emotionally aversive memories.

When to consider

Considering electroconvulsive therapy is for severe or intractable cases of PTSD, especially if the patient also has depression or schizophrenia.

ECT for Borderline Personality Disorder

ECT is sometimes used to treat patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) when other treatments have failed, but it’s controversial and has some limitations:

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Effectiveness: While ECT can reduce depressive symptoms in patients with BPD, it may not be as effective as it is for patients without BPD.
Side effects: ECT can have side effects, and patients with BPD may already experience side effects from other medications.
Underlying issues: ECT doesn’t address the emotional dysregulation that’s a core part of BPD.
Treatment adherence: Patients with BPD may have low adherence to treatment overall.
Tolerability: It’s unknown if patients with BPD symptoms can tolerate the full course of ECT treatment.

Electric Shock Therapy Side Effects

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): should or shouldn’t you? One of my favorite subjects, the electric shock therapy side effects. My biggest complaint is memory loss. I went on a honey moon to the Bahamas, which I don’t remember. According to my ex-husband, we took a Disney cruise to the Bahamas. Don’t remember a thing. The event happened way before I started receiving ECT treatments.

Long-term memory loss: About 10% of patients experience long-term memory loss, which is usually a narrow period of time.
Amnesia: During a seizure, patients can experience amnesia for up to an hour before and after treatment.
Muscle aches: Patients may experience muscle soreness and aches after the first few treatments.
Nausea: Patients may experience nausea, but this is rare because of the low doses of anesthesia used.
Headaches: Patients may experience headaches immediately after ECT.
Confusion: Patients may experience confusion, especially if they are older adults, but this usually wears off after 30 minutes.
Tiredness: Patients may feel tired while the effects of the anesthesia wear off.

ECT Benefits

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be beneficial for treating a number of mental health conditions, including:

Depression

Here’s how it works: ECT sends small electrical impulses through the brain, causing a seizure that lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes. These seizures can lead to changes in brain chemistry that help relieve symptoms like sadness, hopelessness, and low energy.

ECT is one of the most effective treatments for depression, especially for severe cases, treatment-resistant depression, or when psychotic symptoms are involved. Considering it is usually the last option when other treatments haven’t worked. Using ECT to treat severe mania, a state of intense euphoria, agitation, or hyperactivity.

Schizophrenia

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): should or shouldn’t you? ECT can be a useful option for treating treatment-resistant schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. It’s a type of therapy where small electrical currents are sent to the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. This stimulation targets specific areas of the brain and can help ease symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

One of the big advantages of ECT is how quickly it can work—some people start noticing improvements after just a few sessions. This can be especially helpful for those dealing with severe symptoms or who haven’t had much success with other treatments.

Catatonia

One of the biggest advantages of ECT is how quickly it works. While antidepressants can take weeks or even months to kick in, some people feel relief after just a few sessions. Plus, ECT has also been shown to improve cognitive function and memory in some cases.

Using ECT o treat catatonia, a condition characterized by a lack of movement, fast or strange movements, or a lack of speech.

ECT has been around for decades and has come a long way thanks to advances in technology and technique. It’s often been misunderstood, especially in the media where it’s been portrayed as something scary or like a punishment. But with modern methods and proper care, ECT is now seen as a safe and effective treatment.

Agitation and aggression in Dementia

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): should or shouldn’t you? Using ECT to treat agitation and aggression in people with dementia is possible.

ECT can be a good option when other treatments, such as medications and psychotherapy, have not worked. It can also be a good choice when the potential side effects of ECT are less harmful than the side effects of medications. ECT works more quickly than medications, which can be important for people who are severely ill and may be a risk to themselves or others.

ECT is generally most effective for people with psychotic depression, which means they have hallucinations or delusions. The more severely ill the patient is, the more likely they are to benefit from ECT.

How It’s Performed

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): should or shouldn’t you? During ECT, a patient is given general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant, then small electrodes are placed on the scalp and a small electric current is passed through them. The current causes a seizure that usually lasts 20 to 90 seconds. The patient is usually asleep for about five to 10 minutes after the procedure. ECT is usually given two to three times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments.

The procedure begins with the patient being given general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant. This ensures that the patient does not experience any discomfort during the procedure. Small electrodes are then placed on the scalp in specific locations determined by the doctor.

Once everything is set up, a small electric current is passed through the electrodes, which causes a seizure in the brain. This seizure typically lasts between 20 to 90 seconds

How Often It’s Performed

In the U.S., ECT treatments are usually given 2 to 3 times a week for 3 to 4 weeks, for a total of 6 to 12 treatments. The number of treatments depends on the severity of symptoms and how quickly they improve. ECT is usually administered in a hospital or outpatient facility, under the supervision of a psychiatrist and anesthesiologist.

Sum It All Up

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): should or shouldn’t you? So, maybe I’m quick to judge, because it didn’t work for me, and I had part of my memory wiped out. And don’t let them tell you it doesn’t happen. Sometimes it’s not temporary. But, you have to go over the lesser of two evils.

Do you continue living in a hell of mental illness, or do you try ECT with its side effects that could be for the rest of your life? And there is the chance it might not work (like me). It’s a very important decision.

I suppose if I went back in time and had the choice again, I believe I would try it, because it’s better than living in hell. It’s better to have memory loss than never have any good days. Peace and always love. Until next time…

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Articles About ECT

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Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Has Changed: What You Should Know

New Studies of Brain Activity Explain Benefits of Electroconvulsive Therapy

What Are the Benefits of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy
“One Voice With Experience With ECT”

“Much of the stigma attached to ECT is based on early treatments in which high doses of electricity were given without medicines to put people to sleep”

“ECT is the only remedy in mainstream medicine that is expanding in use, receiving increased attention in research, and offering life-saving hope to tens of”

“I hope U-M continues to bring in medical students, to educate them about mental illness and about the wonders of ECT”

“It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life. I have memory problems as a residual of it; however, I’m alive. That was the main point.”
― Kitty Dukakis, Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy