Ect

[Lin]

I posted this thread on the medication section but got no responses, so thought I would try to see if I get any responses from the Depression Forum.


My doctor and my psychiatrist have recommended that I have ECT, but although they say, and the statistics say that the chance of bad memory is low, a locum psychiatrist told me the opposite.
My Dr says that within a couple of weeks of having ECT I could be back at work and fully fit. The psychiatrist said I would have to be very unlucky to be one of the very rare people who have memory problems after about 3 weeks after the treatment.
Has anyone had ECT?
Has anyone had problems with ECT?
What do others think about having ECT?

[hermitcrab]

I had a series of ECT about 20 years ago. I don't think it made much difference. I can't remember it affecting my memory (maybe that was the side effect). Retrospectively I regret having it done because I sometimes worry if it had any long term effects. Don't get pressured into it unless you are sure about it. I think it is a last resort type of thing if you haven't responded to anything else and you are suicidal. Do you fall in this category?

[Lin]

Thanks for responding.

Yes I have recently taken 2 overdoses and have just been referred to a mood specialist because my psychiatrist is stuck because he can't find an anti depressant which helps me or which don't give me bad side effects.

One locum psychiatrist definitely said it would affect my memory, but my doctor and psychiatrist says that the risk of loss of memory is very small now and I would be extremely unlucky. Me and my husband have always said no because it seems so invasive, but my doctor keeps telling me that if I had it done I could be well and back at work in 2 weeks, and better than overdosing.

So arguments getting stronger now that this bout of depression has last over 2 years, whereas back in 1996 the last time I had post natal depression and they suggested it, my depression only lasted 6 months and I was better when the hormones settled so did not definitely need ECT even though they suggested it.

Sounds good if can be well in 2 weeks, but the memory bit really worries me because my job as a PA relies on my memory.

[hermitcrab]

Hi Lin
Sorry to hear you are going through a difficult time. It must be a hard decision to make. I understand what it is like to have a treatment resistant condition. It is very frustrating and hard to find peace of mind.
My experience was that the memory issue wasn't a big problem. But as I mentioned it wasn't a magic bullet either. But this was just my experience.
Luckily for me the depression improved by itself in time. I think whatever you choose to do you can recover if you hang in there. Sometimes these things have there own timetable. I could fully understand your decision to try it though in your situation. Best of luck.

[rosco]

Hi there, I was hospitalized in 2006 for major depressive disorder, and treatment resistant depression. I had 2 weeks worth of ECT treatment. I do not recall it helping a great deal. the best part for me was being put under before the ect. Very calming and euphoric, but the treatment itself, well, it left much to be desired for me. Still battling the depression of course. The only other thing I remember about the treatments was after I went back to work, I had to concentrate really hard to be able to do my job. Something that may interest you, I recently inquired about a trial on clinical trials.gov about the effects of ketamine and how it has been said to be able to decrease the depressive symptoms within hours instead of weeks or months like when you change meds. I was anxious to get in the trials and received two phone calls from them in Maryland. They were interested in having me come for treatment, however, they wanted me for a minimum of 3 months. Im not in a financial state that would allow me to be gone that long and would probably lose my job. Even though i understand they pay the expenses. However, ketamine is a long way of from being FDA approved, so even if it worked, continuing treatment would not be available for years. Just something to think about. I wish you the best! I know exactly what you are going through.