Electric Shock Therapy For Ptsd

[Pencil]

;)No, I would still use Paracetamol because it works 100% of the time in exactly the same way for every user. ECT, on the other hand, is a gamble. Hemingway committed suicide after ECT: His depression lifted, but he lost his ability to create - 'It was a brilliant cure but we lost the patient'. If it is recommended for major depression, and the patient is happy with the idea, I would not try to dissuade. If, however, someone is uncertain about its efficacy for PTSD, my view would be 'If in doubt, don't' - which is basically what I said.

 

[Britt.f7]

Here is an interesting pamphlet based out of Australia I believe(could be wrong) that gives information about treatment for ASD and PTSD. They also give a thumbs up and thumbs down to various treatments, including homeopathic. The references, toward the end of the pamphlet, seem to be legit.

As far as PTSD and ECT, it gave the thumbs down for it's effectiveness.

[DLMURL]http://www.mhfa.com.au/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/whatworks_anxietydisorders.pdf[/DLMURL]

 

[Springer80]

It would seem that it is the medical equivalent of napalm. Obliteration cures most things of most things.

 

[Pencil]

It would seem that it is the medical equivalent of napalm. Obliteration cures most things of most things.

ROFLMAO. Bloody excellent Springer!

 

[Shellbell]

I have done a fair bit of research into PTSD and therapy types and not seen any evidence that ECT is a viable, or recommended treatment for PTSD. It appears to be mostly used for extreme and severe cases of depression.

The only references I have seen about PTSD and ECT are negative. I would not consider it.

 

[InHell11]

I think if someone consents to it then that's fine and they should have every right to have that treatment. I just would not agree with it being forced since it can have some negative side effects like memory loss and such.

 

[Britt.f7]

So I read about the memory loss and it usually is based on the type of ECT that they do. Also, it is usually short term memory, or events that occurred shortly before the treatment. Frankly, I would do it in a minute if it could delete some of my old memories. Too bad I couldn't pick and choose.

 

[Shellbell]

I know of a woman who had teenage children and she lost the first 10 years of her children lives. Her memory of their births and them being young children all completely gone, permanently.

But, for some people ECT would be a necessary last resort.

And yes, I agree it shouldn't be forced upon anyone. It is a hard choice to make.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Yes, necessary LAST resort...last being the key word. It is extreme, and that's why I think people should try just about everything else out there that's viable. And, only in cases that warrant it. Simply not being the "old, pre-trauma you" is not, IMHO, a reason to jump into ECT, as nobody is ever going to be the pre-trauma person they once were. I really wish that more therapists and doctors stressed this to their patients. It really hit home with me when my therapist explained it to me...well, I have no pre-trauma me, rather she was saying that is one of the only upsides to being traumatized so young, that I don't have this reconciliation period to go through.

 

[Britt.f7]

I know of a woman who had teenage children and she lost the first 10 years of her children lives.

I think that is entirely possible, obviously. I'm sure they are better then ten years ago, or even a few years ago. I believe I read that on the NIH website. But, they also stress, to make sure you have the right Doctors, Anesthesiologists, and various other type people. I definitely think you are taking your chances whenever you do something like this.

well, I have no pre-trauma me

I don't have a pre-trauma person either. I do wish, even though I don't have that person, that I didn't remember, or have the body flashbacks that I do. Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for any of us.

 

[ptsdcat]

Hi, I had ECT for depression, and developed retrograde amnesia regarding everything prior to the procedure. Shortly after that I certainly had problems but felt less burdened and uninhibited in interacting with people because I did not have past memories of trauma.

Sadly the ECT didn't do anything for the depression in the long term, and I feel made the trauma in my life worse, because I only have a small window of clear memory available, in which I've suffered immeasurable trauma and abuse. I can't look back to a time when people were less abusive and I was happier, so it feels like it's been all my life.

 

[therapybankrupt]

I was working on my recovery seven years ago and two of my female buddies from DBT decided to get ECT. We all ended up in the hospital at the same time. They were both young mothers and had suffered years with their mental illnesses. I had classes and group with them following their ECT treatments and they were like zombies. Very little emotion almost not there!

I am not kidding. They did not remember me at all. I could not believe it! Actually I comforted the one young girl the night she had the ECT in the hospital. I held her till she fell asleep she was terrified! I don't know if the process has changed but I will never consider that type of treatment. They cause your brain to have repeated seizures.