Is ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) right? or even legal? I thought it was used in the 70's and stopped?

Question

anyway. the reason I ask is because I am a mental health student nurse and next week I am due to observe a treatment of ECT. I was quite shocked to hear my mento tell me this because I thought it was a very bad way of treating patients as I believed it was unethical, painfull and can cause long term damage. I didn't want to refuse because I want to make a good first impression as this is my first hospital placement...I just need to know if other hospitals use this treatment and if it is ok to do so

Answer 1

ECT is legal and is a very good treatment for depression. It did fall out of favor last century because it was sometimes used inhumanely and used as a punishment in mental institutions.

It is a particularly helpful tool for depressed patients with a high immediate risk for suicide because of one major fact. It works almost immediately whereas drug treatments for depression usually take 10 to 14 days before the patient sees much relief.

The way modern ECT is done is very humane and gentle. The patient is anesthetized and unconscious. They are given muscle relaxants so their body won't jerk and cause bruises or other stress injuries. Generally only one side of the brain has electricity applied to it at a time to diminish side effects.

The most dangerous thing about it now is being anesthetized. And sometimes anesthesia can disrupt some memories over the last few months or so but it's usually not serious.

It can be done on an out-patient basis and I think usually takes two hours or less from start to finish.

The results can be amazing.

Answer 2

My exboyfriend's mother is a huge advocate for ECT. She has long suffered from bipolar disorder and PTSD. She said the ECT is the only thing that helped her stabilize her mood swings, and she's even lectured on the subject.

Personally, I didn't know her before she went through all this, but now, she's not normal. She probably never was, but honestly, she's not a well woman now, even though she thinks she is. I think she's happier, but she lost something. She's just not right! She has a hard time functioning in society. But, like I said, she probably always did, it's hard to say.

I think most people use it really as a last resort when medication and talk therapy have not been effective.

Answer 3

Only you can decide if ECT is "right". However, it is currently legal. It was a widely used treatment for many psychological diseases, however, now it is used as the absolute last resort when nothing else has worked. In the end, it usually does benefit the patient. You might feel differently after observing the patient.

Answer 4

I can't answer your question, but my personal opinion is that it's horribly wrong :(