the likelihood of having complete
resolution of symptoms, is
reported to range from 70-90%
with ECT. It is much more
effective than any medication we
have at present, which typically
have remission rates around 2030%. ECT is also effective in the
manic phase of bipolar disorder.
Response is particularly high for
depressed people who are
psychotic or catatonic. ECT can
also be used in other conditions
when other treatments are
not sufficiently effective, such as
schizophrenia, Parkinson’s
disease, and treatment-resistant
epilepsy (including status
epileptics, which is a lifethreatening condition).
The side effect that has been most controversial is
memory loss within patients. There are two types
of memory loss. The first type happens shortly
after treatment the patient loses a lot of new
information they have learned, like conversations.
This is only temporary though, it normally goes
away after two to three weeks after treatment has
been completed. The second type of memory loss
are events from the past. (Side Effects) This also
tends to improve after treatment, but permanent
gaps in memory may still be prominent. Other
than memory loss, the most common side effects
associated with ECT are headache, upset stomach,
and muscle aches. Some people may experience
memory problems, especially of memories around
the time of the treatment. But, “Research has
found that memory problems seem to be more
associated with the traditional type of ECT called
bilateral ECT, in which the electrodes are placed
on both sides of the head. Unilateral ECT, in
which the electrodes are placed on just one side of
the head” (Brain Stimulation)
There have been many people who have
benefitted from Electroconvulsive Therapy. Lucy
Parma, a woman who suffered from depression
for ten years and tried plenty of antidepressants
said, “ECT was my magic wand.” (Parma) Her
depression came and went, but got extremely bad
about once a year. She stated, “My depression
always took the same form. It started with anxiety
and morphed into black despair. I would wake up
early and feel sick. Then I would feel a physical
change coming over my body - my chest felt
heavy and my limbs rinsed through with a mixture
of worry and inertia. Within a couple of days, I
stopped functioning properly. I couldn't wash my
hair, prepare food, or think rationally. I couldn't
even bear to listen to music because it seemed so
flippant.” (Parma) Meanwhile, she was on
antidepressants when this was happening along
side of other therapy such as cognitive behavioral
therapy, group therapy, and counseling. After five
months of her last cycle of depression, her doctor
saw it wasn’t getting any better and decided to try
ECT. On the day of the treatment she followed all
of the proper procedures, when she woke up she
felt amazing. Lucy stated, “Then I woke up. And I
was better. I felt a bit confused, and I had a
terrible ache in my jaw, but from the second I
opened my eyes I felt more present in the room
than I had felt for months. My spirit and
personality had returned. The sunglasses and
earmuffs were off. I was taken to a side room,
and told it was fine to sleep, but I sat bolt upright
on the bed, drinking everything in. I had a few
more sessions after that, even though I felt 100
per cent better by the time I'd had just two.”
(Parma) Earlier in the article, Lucy describes the
sunglasses and earmuffs as a way she felt when
she was depressed. She had all of the common
side effects. Lucy stated,
I did have side-effects, but they
were worth it - and would have
been even if they were ten times
worse. For the first few weeks I
would completely forget things entire conversations sometimes.
But this became less pronounced,
and went away after about four
months. More annoying was that
I felt less mentally agile. I
couldn't connect things so well –
for example, if I'd seen a certain
actor in another film I couldn't
place them. My doctor explained
that if you do a brain scan on
someone who's had ECT, you
can actually see that their
brainwaves become wonky for
three months, in a similar way to
someone who's had an epileptic
fit (Parma).
She finishes her article stating, “I'd urge anyone
with serious depression to try it. If you truly are at
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