What is the downside to ECT?

The main downsides to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) are temporary confusion, memory loss (especially for events before and during treatment, sometimes with permanent gaps), headaches, muscle pain, and nausea, alongside risks from general anesthesia like cardiovascular changes. While serious complications are rare, patients experience immediate post-treatment grogginess and discomfort, requiring someone to drive them home.

Can ECT make things worse?

Some people who had bipolar disorder described experiencing a 'high' after the ECT. John Z, who was catatonic when he had the treatment, went high and 'off the scale' after his ECT treatment (see for more 'How effective did people find ECT'). Sometimes this was short lived and left them feeling worse than before.

Why are people against ECT?

ECT opponents claim that psychiatry fails to acknowledge the extent, severity, or even existence of severe potential side effects from ECT, including “brain damage”, “mortality”, and “traumatic impact on the brain” (10).

Does ECT cause permanent memory problems?

Recent studies show that ECT can cause lasting autobiographical memory loss and cognitive damage for many patients. Yet major psychiatric institutions continue to describe it as safe, often blaming the memory loss on depression itself.

What is the success rate of ECT therapy?

A naturalistic study that analyzed 38 patients who showed severe resistant to treatment, concluded that ECT is highly effective and showed a higher than 50% remission rate (40).

The truth about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) - Helen M. Farrell

Who is not a good candidate for ECT?

The first step in considering ECT is to ensure that patients definitively meet the criteria for a major depressive episode. Patients whose dysphoria is better accounted for by another condition—common ones being anxiety, eating disorders, and personality disorders—should not be treated with ECT.

What is the most effective mental health treatment?

The most effective mental health treatment often involves a personalized combination of psychotherapy (like CBT, DBT) and medication, though the best approach varies by individual and condition, with therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) being a research-backed first-line treatment for many issues, while Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) excels for severe cases like Borderline Personality Disorder. A combined approach (therapy + meds) generally promotes the best recovery, alongside healthy lifestyle habits like exercise and good sleep.
 

Does ECT reduce life expectancy?

Compared to the control group, patients receiving ECT had lower all-cause mortality for up to 1 year following hospital discharge (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=0.61, 95% CI:0.56–0.66). For death by suicide, one-year survival analysis showed no group difference.

Is ECT a last resort?

No, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) isn't always a last resort, though it's often considered after medications fail; increasingly, it's recommended earlier for severe, treatment-resistant depression or suicidal cases, as it's a safe, effective, and fast treatment for relief, not a barbaric treatment of the past. Modern ECT is performed under anesthesia and involves controlled seizures, with high success rates for severe mood disorders.
 

Does ECT rewire the brain?

The disrupt, potentiate, and rewire (DPR) hypothesis (5) suggests that ECT leads to temporary disruption of neuronal networks, followed by a trophic effect (potentiation), which enables the rewiring of neuronal circuits to a more euthymic functioning brain.

Who should avoid ECT?

You should avoid electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) if:

You have a serious heart condition. You have had a recent stroke or aneurysm. You have severe lung disease.

Does ECT affect your personality?

ECT may improve your ability to think and give you emotions that are more normal. There is no evidence that ECT causes brain damage or any harmful changes in personality. It is important to be aware of any risks and side effects associated with ECT before commencing treatment.

What celebrities have had ECT therapy?

Leonard Roy Frank, is a published author, human rights activist, and self-described psychiatric survivor. Judy Garland, Singer, dancer, actress. Julie Goodyear, English actress from Coronation Street. Peter Green, English blues guitarist, founding member of Fleetwood Mac.

Does ECT affect your IQ?

However, former patients have publicly testified that ECT can result in a very significant (>30 point) permanent decrement in IQ score (Food and Drug Administration, 1982; Andre, 2001; Cott, 2005: p. 5) and have documented the claims by extensive neuropsychological evaluation.

Can you live a normal life after ECT?

Yes, many people can live a normal, functional life after Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), often returning to work, school, and relationships, with ECT providing significant symptom relief that enables full participation in life, though temporary side effects like confusion and memory loss occur and require careful management and follow-up care. While some report substantial improvement and feel better than ever, others experience lingering cognitive issues, emphasizing that outcomes vary, and ongoing support is often needed, but for most, it restores quality of life and function. 

Can ECT make you angry?

After the third ECT session, the patient developed manic symptoms, being sexually disinhibited and required seclusion. Increased energy, decreased sleep, talkativeness, irritability, and agitation were noted.

What has replaced ECT?

Alternatives to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for treatment-resistant depression include other brain stimulation methods like TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and experimental techniques like MST (Magnetic Seizure Therapy), medications like ketamine or esketamine, and psychotherapy (CBT), often combined with optimizing medications, aiming for similar efficacy with fewer cognitive side effects like memory issues.
 

Is ECT worth the risk?

In reality, ECT is a well-monitored medical procedure that's safe and effective at treating certain mental health conditions. Your care team will be with you every step of the way. Their priority is your safety and comfort. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to speak up.

What is the next step if ECT doesn't work?

If ECT doesn't work, doctors turn to other neuromodulation options like rTMS, ketamine, or VNS, optimize medications (potentially adding lithium, MAOIs, or antipsychotics), explore deep brain stimulation (DBS) in research, or combine treatments like psychostimulants with therapy, focusing on multimodal care for severe, complex cases. A reassessment of the ECT itself (like frequency, placement) might also occur, but generally, if after 6-12 sessions there's no response, other strategies are pursued. 

What is the hardest mental disease to live with?

There's no single "hardest" mental illness, as it's subjective, but Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are often cited due to their profound impact on reality, mood regulation, and relationships, alongside severe conditions like severe PTSD and Anorexia Nervosa, each presenting unique, debilitating challenges in daily functioning, self-perception, and social interaction. 

Does ECT cause dementia in later life?

Long-term side effects

Rigorous scientific research has not found any evidence of physical brain damage in patients who have had ECT. There is no increased risk of epilepsy, stroke or dementia after ECT. The most serious potential long-term side effect of ECT is that you might forget events from your past.

At what age does 75% of all lifetime mental ill health begin?

50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24.

What is the number one mental health killer?

While all eating disorders are dangerous mental health conditions, anorexia nervosa (AN) has the unfortunate distinction of being the deadliest eating disorder—and, by some accounts, the deadliest psychiatric disorder.

What therapy rewires the brain?

Neurotherapy trains a patient's brain to produce more normal or optimal brain wave patterns. There are a number of neurotechnologies with therapeutic applications that achieve this goal in a variety of ways. For example, neurofeedback therapy helps to rewire brain wave activity through positive reinforcement.

What is the most debilitating mental illness?

Schizophrenia, the most severe and disabling of all psychiatric illnesses, is relatively neglected in the WHO report, and the disability associated with bipolar disorder is underestimated.