Does Electro convulsive therapy work?

Question

Do patients benefit from using ect

Answer 1

E.C.T. is perhaps the most controversial treatment currently used by the medical profession. While some survivors report it as helpful or life-saving to them, others find it much less helpful, and many view it as a damaging and threatening tool of psychiatric oppression.

Many clinical research projects undertaken by doctors conclude that E.C.T. is effective for the treatment of depressive illness. It is, however, important to note that studies tend to measure outcomes in terms of symptom reduction rather than quality of life and social functioning

One study to seek the views of survivors involved a series of interviews with 166 people who had E.C.T. in the 1970s. It should, however, be noted that this was done by psychiatrists in a psychiatric hospital. The authors got the impression that those with strong views expressed them, but that it was less certain whether others were more distressed by E.C.T. than they were prepared to say. They concluded that most survivors "did not find the treatment unduly upsetting or frightening, nor was it a painful or unpleasant experience. Most felt it helped them and hardly any felt it had made them worse." (Freeman and Kendell, 1980: 16). Many complained, however, about permanent memory loss, especially around the time of treatment.

A national survey of survivors in 1995 found that 13.6% described their experience as "very helpful", 16.5% "helpful", 13.6% said it had made "no difference", 16.5% "not helpful" and 35.1% "damaging".

To maximize the benefits of ECT and minimize the risks, it is essential that the patient's illness be correctly diagnosed, that ECT be administered only for appropriate indications, and that the risks and adverse effects be weighed against the risks of alternative treatments. Risks and adverse effects of ECT can be divided into two categories: (1) Those medical complications that can be substantially reduced by the use of appropriately trained staff, best equipment, and best methods of administration and (2) those side effects, such as spotty but persistent memory loss and transient posttreatment confusion, that can be expected even when an optimal treatment approach is used. In this report, we will focus on the risks still present with adequate treatment techniques.

In the past, up to 40 percent of patients suffered from various complications, the most common being vertebral compression fractures. With present techniques, these risks have been virtually eliminated. In one recent study of almost 25,000 treatments, a complication rate of 1 per 1,300 to 1,400 treatments was found. These included laryngospasm, circulatory insufficiency, tooth damage, vertebral compression fractures, status epilepticus, peripheral nerve palsy, skin burns, and prolonged apnea.

(Personally, I wouldn't volunteer if asked)

Answer 2

ECT has been used in therapy for any years, it works. It can be a good therapy for some forms of depression and psychosis.

Answer 3

It has shown to only work with patients with severe depression. This is almost always a last resort for the patients and their therapists however.

Answer 4

stick a fork in the toaster and if you start to convulse you will die and you will have your answer ...pitty no one will understand why you wanted to know that .
cos on your death certificate it will be written
Another idiot who stuck a fork in a toaster .
and not
Another guy who tried to find out if electro convulsions were real.