What Constitutes the Need for ECT?

I recently read a post that a person called there T b/c they were manic.
They were advised by there T, to have ECT.

I've read abt ECT and from my understanding its suppose to be done in extreme cases.

Is ECT really being used to stop/treat
mania?

3 sessions were just scheduled for me, starting tomorrow, for mania. The most common use is for suicidal depression, treatment resistant people with depression or bipolar, during pregnancy instead of medications.

It has been seen as a last resort treatment but that has changed recently because it is so effective. For each antidepressant you try you have a 30% chance that it will work for you. ECT is 80% effective. That is quite a difference.

Still, having to do ECT is one of my greatest fears.

I have the same thought exact. I have a advance medical directive, l have listed that I do not want ECT.

What scares you about ECT? The way it was done in the early 1900's, yes, that would scare me. Now, they put in an IV, put electrodes on your forehead, attach an EKG monitor, knock you out and paralyze your body. Then the pdoc presses a button and the electrical charge lasts just seconds causing a seizure that lasts 30 to 60 seconds. All that moves is your toes. A few minutes later you wake up in the recovery room, rest a little while and then on home. You may have a headache but an OTC pain med will take care of it. The procedure is simple and painless.

A couple of years ago I had a horrible depressive/mixed episode with a lot of suicidal thoughts and a few attempts. I had many sessions of ECT (I don't remember the exact number now) inpatient and outpatient, but I never had the feeling that it was particularly effective. I did get headaches though and my short term memory had been almost ruined. Once I asked my mum what day it was for five times in a row

I had 15 sessions of ECT six years ago. I was because my other option was to go to the state hospital for long term care and that scared me more as I had been in the state hospital for adolescents and it was horrible. My depression was super severe and I had attempted suicide. The ECT Absolutely worked. I lost a lot of memory though. Forgot people's names from high school and how to get around my home town. I don't remember the hospital stay at all. But the actual treatments were not so bad and it worked so well that if I ever got in that situation again I would absolutely consider it.

I do agree you should try all other avenues first but when I was basically dead from depression and ECT made life worth living again.

I've read good things about it. But that's my only experience besides watching movies that portrayed it as negative. I was surprised to read how successful it can be, so I would not resist it if the doctors thought I really needed it.

what scares me about it is the possibility of memory and cognitive functioning loss. Since I cling to my memories and to my cognitive skills... to me if it's the risk... well, I may as well be dead.

that's not to offend anybody who went through it... but I guess I value my brain more than the fact I breathe.

Having someone who may or may not actually care about me zapping the everliving daylights out of my brain scares me. That and the memory loss. I want to maybe be a surgeon and I can't afford to just forget important things.

I have had ECt because of severe depression. Has some slight memery loss at the time but it all came back. I am in a depression now and wish I could have ECT but they use it as a last resort and I am not even bad enough to be in the hospital. They do it outpatient also but my insurance would not pay for it because it is so expensive.

I have maintenance ECT every three weeks to one month. I have some memory loss, but we joke about it and my nick name is Swiss cheese brain. I still feel like I function pretty well.

Over the last couple of months, I feel like my ECT is losing its effectiveness. I wonder if I need it more often, or if it is just going to stop working for me...