My depression followed two years of abuse starting at the age of 14. I am now 45 and see a psychiatrist/psychologist monthly. I became resistant to medications. I underwent eight ECT's back in 1995, which worked out well. I obvioulsy had short term memory loss as do many people that experience seizures (not brain damage) which is what "re-boots" your brain activity/chemicals. I noticed no other affects. I am sorry for those that ECT did not help; there are numerous procedures performed in hospitals daily that are not 100% guaranteed or safe. I recall many incidences of forgetfulness prior to receiving ECT's, obviously due to my depressive state and post-traumatic stress of the abuse. After ECT, I graduated from a two-year college with a 4.0 GPA, a member of an honor society for two year colleges and scholarships. At 45, and working as a technician since, I am finishing at a university with my BSBA. I can not help but to think some people connect their bad situation after ECT to the therapy and not their present psychological diagnosis. If you want information on ECT, pro and con, talk to your family physician (he's smarter than you think about things other than a belly-ache) and stay away from .com sites. You may be surprised to know that there are a lot of rebel-rousers and low-lifes out there getting their laughs with their buddies over a beer reading your blogs.

I am reistant to SSRI's and Wellbutrin. I always laugh that if a cardiac drug took 4-6 wks to kick in...well you get the idea. I was ready to have ECT this wk. Until the nurse (could have said it to me earlier) told me I would have to have a tx e/o day x 2 wks. This is outpt. I have 3 preschoolers. My husband can't be with ME (and you have to have a responsbile adult with you after the ECT all day) and at homme taking care of the twins and our other son two are 4 and a 5 yr old.I am bummed because I truly looked at ECT as a really quick FIX. Even tho I now more than one tx is needed. I had NO idea it was that frequently for the first 2 wks. I have no people just waiting around wanting to babysit me or my kids. Good luck out there to everyone. I quite using alcohol 7 yrs ago. Why is is? I am in the med field and still don't know the answer to this...why is my depression made so much better by a depressant like alcohol? Wondering what's next in MN

Alot of people keep talking of short term memory loss or big chunks of memory being missing. I find it strange that I have not yet recieved ECT treatments and I already have these problems due to my depression, or the meds I have used to treat it. Suicidal ideation is a constant theme throughout my days, some of this is because as a mother I have sufferred some major tragedies and growing up in a domestically violent alcholic homeis a contribution. I am now 48 and feel like if the rest of my life is unknown to me and might possibly entail more issues, events, traumas where I am so overwhelmed Ihave no control over my actions again.I have been in mixed state for over a year now but How can someone evaluate this in 55 minutes ? There are many memories I would just as soon lose forever. I hoope I am a good canidate for ECT I feel the side effects are worth it for me. Best of health people, we are all different chemically so it would only be natural for theoutcome to vary. Yes?

I have suffered from severe depression and bi-polar d/o for 20 years, I have used medication with therapy for years now. I also have an auto-immune d/o. My medications simply have stopped working. I keep saying I won't set the precident for suicide being an option within my family by checking out but it is on my mind all the time lately. I am taking care of my father and living with my sister because I became homeless due to poor decision making. The living dynamic after the adjustment period has been fine but I feel I have to hide my thoughts and I beleive this is making it worse because I can't get the support I need from my family because 1. They Totally DO Not understand 2.They simply dont want to hear anything about me cuz dad is the focus. I really have been interested in ECT for years and have investigated it and I feel it is time to talk to my Psychiatrist about it. I present a very "together" facade and have only seen her one time since moving here but my hospitalization records ect should speach for my Need. I just dont know how to get the support I need to follow through with it and I am afraid honestly, to bring it up. It has been refreshing to read these postings.

As with just about any other medical treatment, including medications, there are 1) benefits, 2) risks, and 3) different responses that vary from one person to another. No one treatment will work for everyone. What I can tell you about with certainty is my own experience. I underwent about 25 ECT sessions during a very difficult time in my life. I had severe clinical depression and none of the meds were kicking in. I did not even know what ECT was, until I heard about it from another patient. I was pretty nervous about it. BUT IT WORKED WONDERS. It lifted me out of the dark, bottomless pit of depression during which I could not function. With each treatment, I started seeing more and more light at the end of the tunnel. ECT saved my life! There is a lot of misinformation out there. I did have some noticeable memory loss, mostly of events anf thoughts during the time of the treatment. However, after the treatments ended, my memory function gradually improved to my pre-depression state. I am as sharp and alert now as I was before the treatment. The memory thing was a VERY manageable side effect. The treatment kicks in much quicker than most meds. Meds can take at least 8 weeks to work, if they even work at all. I noticed the difference with ECT after just 3 sessions. It is not for everyone. If you respond to meds: great! But if you're severely depressed with no hope in sight, ECT can be very effective. And it will NOT turn you into a vegetable, like some folks here claim.

I have seen ECT reommended for people with pre-existing seizure disorder. Is ECT contraindicated for people with existing epilepsy?

I was at the point in my depression that the psychiatrist told my husband I would spend the rest of life institutionalized. I received 18 ECT treatments. After one, I had severe pain and confusion. But I believe it was the result of an inproperly done ECT, and the competency of the psychiatrist. Even though I struggled with memory problems, they are slowly getting better. Most important though, is that I have a much better quality of life. I am more content and experience less severe episodes of depression. I have tried just about every drug available. I also have no problem recognizing people I know, but trouble remembering their names, but I had trouble with names before.

Altough I find the meds that I am taking are getting old...never but never in a hundred years I would have ECT, the good memorys I have I want to keep ! I knew this wonderfull girl who went for this treatment, after it was so sad she didnt know me anymore. Listen guys in 2008 I think we have way more options who are we kidding here

616.89122 Shock : the healing power of electroconvulsive therapy / Kitty Dukakis and Larry Tye. Kitty Dukakis receives ECT and has written this book that is medically informative, while also conveying her personal experience before ECT and now that she periodically receives ECT.

NNG -- You ask why anyone would chance putting themselves through ECT when other avenues are available. The answer is that we have tried all other avenues, usually many times over. When depression is so severe that you can't get out of bed, can't take a shower, can't brush your teeth, etc., etc., etc. -- ECT may help.