[PreDrB]

I would like to receive some opinions/suggestions reguarding our situation.

My girlfriend of 2+ years and I recently moved to Florida from Ohio. She had been diagnosed with schizophrenoform (a mild form of schizophrenia that can resurface every so often) and severe depression about three years ago. Since moving here we have both changed jobs, moved away from our families, and relocated all at the same point in time. All of these adjustments are some of the most stressful life events one can go through (not to mention we are still young 20 &23). But back to the point of the thread, she was having a hard time with all the changes. She went through 5 jobs in a matter of months and began to show signs of severe depression resurfacing along with minor hallucinations, babbling, and self mutilation. We scheduled her for an ECT review and she was denied the procedure. The thing that gets to me is that I believe (due to statements, questions, and phrasing by the reviewing psychologist) she was denied because of society's uneducated, negative outlook on the ECT process. ECT is one of the most, if not the most, effective treatment for severe depression. The only documented side effects are minor STM (short term memory) loss and the extremely rare occurence of a death. Why are people suffering so much when there is an almost flawless solution right in front of our faces? We can't access this highly successful treatment but anyone and their mother (even those individuals without an illness) has access to psychological drugs such as antidepressants, which by the way, cause numerous deaths (usually suicidal) and have endless lists of side effects.

[ouch]

My psychiatrist kept reminding me that she does ECT. I am suffering from severe depression, but would hate to have it done. I told her that I didn't think I would be needing that. Does your girlfriend actually want it? It sounds like a horrible procedure. Although I know about med side effects - I think I've suffered them all...

[Perna]

I don't think ECT is quite a straightforward as you believe it to be. There's a site I found interesting on the subject, http://www.ect.org/ and it points out how complex the decision (whether to use ECT or not) actually is for pneuropsychologists and implies that your girlfriend was probably turned down for individual reasons concerning her own case rather than any "society" views on the subject. Psychologists reviewing her case to see if ECT was a good fit for her at this timewouldn't care about society's views on the subject I don't believe.

[PreDrB]

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ouch said:
My psychiatrist kept reminding me that she does ECT. I am suffering from severe depression, but would hate to have it done. I told her that I didn't think I would be needing that. Does your girlfriend actually want it? It sounds like a horrible procedure. Although I know about med side effects - I think I've suffered them all...

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My girlfriend really wanted the procedure done because she is tired of suffering from the side effects of the medications she needs to take daily. And, might I add, the medications help as much as they should. She has been instructed by her psychiatrist in Ohio to slowly begin weaning herself off of her meds. She has been off of them for a couple weeks now and is doing much better.

[PreDrB]

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Perna said:
Psychologists reviewing her case to see if ECT was a good fit for her at this timewouldn't care about society's views on the subject I don't believe.

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Proffessionals in the field do have to at least partially base their decisions on popular public opinions. The last thing they want is a swarm of picketers that have no idea what they are talking about causing disturbances with patients (as in the case with abortion clinics). Although ECT is not perfect.....it is a waaaaaay better alternative than being constantly drugged up. Also, some people have trouble relating knowledge to the ECT process because of Hollywood ECT portrayals such as that in the popular movie "To Kill A Mockingbird." The process is much safer that it was when the first ECT experimentations were taking place.

[sunrise]

My friend had ECT twice and it did help with his depression. However, he did experience longterm memory loss. Some memories just never returned and he said he felt kind of a "scrambling" effect. Also, he felt not quite as intellectually sharp as before, perhaps due to the scrambling. However, he is glad he did it since he had major depression that was really making him non-functional and that wasn't responding well to drugs. I guess it's a trade-off.

[Randy33]

I don't know why your girlfriend was denied ECT, but if it is because her doctor is not an advocate of ECT, perhaps she needs to find another doctor?

A few things about ECT. You and your girlfriend need to do some more homework about ECT so you can make a fully informed decision. There are varying degrees of memory loss one can suffer from ECT, not just short term. Doctors usual try Unilateral first because there is a lower risk of memory loss, but if it is not effective, which for many it is not, then they try Bilateral which has a greater risk of memory loss and cognitive impairment.

Memory loss can vary in degree from a few weeks to a few months to a year or many years. Some regain some memory, others regain none. There is also the issue of cognitive impairments and continued problems with short term memory loss after ECT.

You should know a surprisingly, there is a seeminly majority of professionals, therapists and psychiatrists, who are not fully informed about ECT and even doctors who administer ECT, do not always give out accurate information. Someone here suggested ect.org. You should know that the majority of the people at that site are con ECT, many want it banned. They tend to run off anyone who comes there with anything positive to say.

Fortunetly, there is a wonderful new resource, which has been sorely needed. Last September, Kitty Dukakis and Larry Tye released their book "Shock." You can read about Kitty personal experience as well as many many other interviews from people from all perspectives.

Larry is a medical reporter and has done an outstanding job researching ECT, past and present, pros and cons, benefits and side effects, fact and fiction, all kinds of unbias information that he could find about ECT. It is the best available resource I have ever seen on ECT and I highly recommond you and your girlfriend and anyone considering it and professionals as well, to read this book.

In the end, it is a personal decision one must make and as someone else said, it can be a trade off. For many suicidal people, it is a last resort and a very worth while risk to take in order to save one's life. You will find varying degrees of statistics on the success rate of ECT and since statistics are not mandated except in four or so states, there is no way to give an accurate success rate. Regardless, this may be someones only option left and last hope, even though there are risks and no matter what the success rate, it can be a successful option.

Best Wishes

[PreDrB]

Since the move to florida caused my girlfriend to have somewhat of a breakdown in the first place and ECT is not currently an option. We have decided that it is best for her to go back to Ohio for a month or two. Hopefully being with her family and friends will help her balance her mental state. When she returns she will decide whether or not she wants to stay with me in Florida. I would like to be there for her and vice versa, but I moved to Florida to follow my goals and dreams and I refuse to go back. I hope it turns out for the best. Thanks for all your help everyone.

[sidony]

A friend of mine had ECT and was disturbed by the memory loss problems. Although I think they were ultimately temporary problems, he was hospitalized once for walking around in a "state of confusion" and being unable to tell anyone who he was. He had temporarily lost his identity with a short-term amnesia that appeared to be related to his recent ECT. Anyway, he was very scared by that. I would at least be very cautious.

I wish you the best and hope things improve for your girlfriend so you guys can be together!

Sidony