cont. from

How Distressing is ECT to Patients?

While there are certainly patients who perceive the treatment as terrifying and shameful, and some who report distress about persistent memory loss, many speak positively of the benefits. An article entitled "Are Patients Shocked by ECT?" reported on interviews with 72 consecutive patients treated with ECT. The patients were asked whether they were frightened or angered by the experience, how they looked back at the treatment, and whether they would do it again. Of the patients interviewed, 54% considered a trip to the dentist more distressing, many praised the treatment, and 81% said they would agree to have ECT again. Those are comforting statistics about a treatment that has an ugly name and ugly connotations but beautiful and even life-saving results.

The scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of the treatment has been firmly established in the professional literature. In addition, decades old studies showing brain cell death have been refuted in recent studies (but some anti-ECT activists still quote them). However, ECT is like all other treatments.

Doctors often underplay the potential side-effects. In addition, it is sometimes prescribed for conditions it is not medically appropriate for. And like other treatments, the effective is not always permanent. Like with medicines, ECT is not used once and you are better forever. Maintenance ECT may be required.

Unfortunately, some well-intentioned activists, received ECT inappropriately; were erroneously told the effects were always permanent; and/or suffered side effects (ex. memory loss) that their doctors did not explain. Some of these activists have attacked the treatment itself when it is really the doctor who delivered the treatment who was at fault. NAMI's official policy is that while it does not endorse particular forms of treatment, it believes informed individuals with neurobiological disorders have the right to receive NIMH approved treatments like ECT from properly trained practitioners. NAMI opposes actions intended to limit this right.

Dr. Demitri Papolos
Montefiore Medical Center
430-2419 430-2428

Dr. D.P. Devanand
Dr. Harold Sackeim
NY Psychiatric Institute 722 West 168th St.
NY NY 10032
(212) 960-5612

Dr. Max Fink
State University of NY at Stony Brook
(516) 444-2928
(516) 444-2918

Dr. Shep Kanter
Dr. Fox Gracie
Square Hospital
988-4400

Dr. John Markowitz
Payne Whitney Hospital
746-3774

Dr. Mathew Smith
NY University Hospital
213-8104
Dr. Bruce Klutchko
NY University Hospital
532-4293

Dr. Ana Fels
NY Hospital
Cornell Medical Center
Payne Whitney Clinic 525 East 68th St.
NY NY 10021
(212) 746-3994

This article was posted by D.J. Jaffe on behalf of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill/Friends and Advocates of the Mentally Ill, a NYC Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

next: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Science vs Perceptions

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Reviewed: 01/2006