ECT

[roxie_09]

I am studying mental health nursing at uni at the moment, and one of the treatments that is offered (as last resort) is ect (electro-compulsive therapy), i was just wondering if anybody had any particular views on the subject x

[boxtops]

rosie - duplicate post - no need to post twice, it confuses people http://www.theanswerb.../Question1028481.html

[roxie_09]

I thought this would be a more appropriate place to put it, as i have noticed some people getting a bit annoyed that others are not using these other headings I keep forgetting about the subheadings :( sorry for any confusion, its honestly not meant x

[Sqad]

It seems to work in particular cases that are resistant to drug therapy in the case of depressive illnesses and was very popular up until 30years ago when drug therapy improved.

Nobody knows why or how it works.......but is not a pleasant sight to see.

As the brain is stimulated (shocked) the muscles go into violent spasm, so it has to be done with a short acting intravenous anaesthetic and an intravenous muscle relaxant.

That is my sum knowledge of ECT and before you ask....No....I have never had it or nedded it.

[beso]

A while back I posted a question here about my mother-in-law who had gone from a fine woman to a very strange and negative space. She had lost good friends which I think brought it on.

She was diagnosed with agitated depression and spent months in care at first on medication, mostly Valium and derivatives. The medication itself became more of a problem as it simply dulled her down.

Eventually she was sectioned and they got her off that medication and onto a different type. This helped a bit but after three weeks the doctors said the progress was too slow and they suggested ECT.

From the very first treatment she was well on the comeback. After seven treatments spaced a couple of days apart she went home and has never looked back. She is her old self again and more, almost hyper at times. She is positive, enthusiastic and into life again.

This is a woman who had given up on life, was constantly apprehensive, could barely walk, needed home help, meals-on-wheels etc. Now she is cooking, driving, shopping, gardening and having a great time. We are all so glad to have her back.

A colleague had a similar experience with his father after a mini-stroke though he has had to go back for more treatments.

A family friend fell into depression after her husband died young. She had ECT after drugs did nothing and came back to normal. That was over thirty years ago and she never looked back.

[roxie_09]

Thanks for everyones views, it is so good to see the benefits that it can cause. without the side affects that common medications can implicate. After speaking to a few clients in hospital that have received this treatment, they are completely unaware what their bodies are going through each time they have ect, so if they do not experience that barbaric-ness (not sure if thats a word) is it really barbaric? as sqad has pointed out, they are under a short term acting anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant, so they are not actually having the violent physical fit, the brain just does what it would do (stimulated by electric being put into the brain) during an epiletic fit x

[anneasquith]

imo it appeared barbaric when i witnessed it many years ago...just how often is it used now, and what " mental illness " does it appear to help most ?

[roxie_09]

It is used very rarely at the moment, used as a last resort for very treatment resistant patients. The clients that usually have ECT have severe depression, resulting in not eating and looking after themselves. They are usually prescribed 12 treatments over the course of 6 weeks (so twice a week) and usually see a difference within 6 weeks, have seen improvements within just a few. I have seen people that just dont eat anything! didnt engage with anyone, isolated to own room, have ect and then start eating in communcal areas in hospital having long conversations with other clients and lookingafter themselves. (person in quesiton again suffering severe depression) x

[RATTER15]

Its interesting, see this clip, seems to work in some instances.

Its OK to watch, nothing horrific.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYl13Relzbs&feature=related

[beso]

I recon it has far more in common with an orgasm than an epileptic fit. At least from the change in perspective of the patient.

My mother-in-law said was completely unaware of any part of the procedure and would not hesitate to do it again if she was experiencing problems again.

The word you were looking for was "barbarity" but I do not think it is appropriate. Cutting open a person's body and swapping their heart for that of a dead person is apparently quite acceptable yet seem far more barbaric to me.

[roxie_09]

thanks beso, my brain is not functioning properly at the moment ha been concentrating too hard on this blimming assignment i've got to do, so opologies if i do make comments that make no sense at all :).. xx