In the mid-20th century the practice of ECT was sometimes abused through its indiscriminate application to patients in mental hospitals. It has since been supplanted for many conditions by treatment with psychotherapeutic drugs, but in the 1980s there was a resurgence in its use with patients suffering life-threatening depression. It also continues to be used with a small percentage of other ailments, including treatment of the melancholia experienced by some patients with parkinsons disease The action of ECT may be linked with the increase in blood levels of beta endorphin observed by patients after shock treatment, since endorphins are the body's so-called natural opiates.
In 1991 in England and Wales up to 20,000 people received ECT. Its used three times more frequently per head of population than in the USA, and is likely to be offered at an earlier stage of treatment.
A friend of mine described the events and feelings having had three courses of ECT. On her first treatment she was anxious and terrified. She was taken to the ECT suit where she was made to lay down and given a combination of anaesthetic and muscle relaxant. The next thing she knew she was in another room and it was over. The only complaints she had was a slight headache with was cured by paracetamol, and temporary short term loss of memory. She was told she'd had a good fit which indicated a good prognosis. After this she was no longer afraid of the treatment.
However after a couple of years she had to undergo two more courses which was not effective. On reflection she feels the many courses left her with permanent memory impairment. Although the first coarse hadn't worked she probably wouldn't be alive. So I guess you have to weigh up the pros and cons, if someone is terminally depressed then ECT may save their live. And it isn't the frankensteinian treatment it used to be. Its up to you to make the final decision.
Hamish
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