I underwent 6 treatments in a two week period (2005) after almost dying by my own hand. I don't remember signing consent but I don't think my doctor at the time gave me much of an option.

I experienced moderate memory loss from a couple of months before my treatment, during treatment and for at least 2 months after. I do however, still remember snatches of things - right up to refusing to undergo the ECT unless my husband was there when I was anesthetized.

When I came home from hospital I found that I had lost some basic skills such as counting ... I couldn't even add 2 + 2 without becoming confused. This only lasted a month or two. I do remember feeling very stupid!

Basic cooking (and I love cooking) skills flew out the window for a while. I had to re-learn certain things in the kitchen. Thankfully, all normal now too.

One of the worst issues for me was that I couldn't remember eating and I was apparantly eating 6 huge meals a day, as well as hording food. I gained an enormous amount of weight during and just after my ECT that I am still struggling to lose it to this day. I developed a very disordered way of eating after ECT and all good sense and logic flew out the window. And I still struggle with this.

For the most part, ECT didn't lift my depression at all. Many months after my treatment something snapped in me and I refused further meds or therapy. It has been an up and down struggle but I have been in what I call "remission" since then.

Given a choice, I very much doubt I would go for ECT if the need ever arose again.

On the other hand, as Tanouviel said, it certainly does work for some people.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience with you.

Good luck on what you decide.