Memory Loss From ECT

Yes, ECT causes memory loss. This is well established in the literature. The arguing point remains just how much memory loss does it cause?

Herbal Treatments for ECS-Induced Memory Deficits: A Review of Research and a Discussion on Animal Models - this article discusses the problems of memory loss during ECT and reviews the use of traditional herbal methods in combatting the deficits. From Journal of ECT.

Participate in an ECT Evaluation
Harold Sackeim has invited anyone who feels they've suffered permanent memory loss from ECT to visit his center for an evaluation.

Memory and ECT
Bilateral and Unilateral ECT: Effects on Verbal and Nonverbal Memory is an intensive study of the kinds of memory loss associated with the two types of ECT. Authors Squire and Slater conclude that unilateral effects on memory are not as widespread as in bilateral ECT, but that "it should be noted that some risks to memory exist even for unilateral ECT." Additionally, they cite a survey by the APA which reported that 75 percent of 3,000 respondents used bilateral ECT for all their patients.

The famous Freeman, Weeks and Kendell study
Patients Who Complain, a descriptive study of 26 ECT patients who felt that ECT had left them with permanent, negative effects. Authors Freeman, Weeks and Kendell recruited complaining patients via a newspaper and through hospital personnel. A group of volunteers who did not have ECT acted as the control group. Careful attention was paid to trying to factor in medications and levels of depression to account for some memory loss (a common allegation from the ECT industry is that any memory loss is from these factors, and not the ECT itself). Say the authors, "However, even when these factors and three other variables were taken into account not all the difference could be explained."

Adverse psychological effects after ECT
A new study from the Journal of Mental Health examines the adverse psychological effects in ECT patients, as well as the lack of consideration doctors have given to their patients' views and concerns. Even Richard Abrams, who has been notably negligent about patient concerns admits "Doctors who give ECT have shown remarkably little interest in their patients' views of the procedure and its effects on them." An interesting statement in light of his work.

Now Where Did I Put Those Keys?
An interesting article on memory, which says "A person who experiences physical trauma to the brain or an electroconvulsive shock may forget his past while retaining the ability to create new memories."

Advocates for both sides debate the memory loss issue, and Harold Sackeim admits the famous 1 in 200 (1 in 200 persons receiving ECT gets memory loss) is not based in science. Despite the fact that this number was pulled out of a hat, it is the most commonly quoted "statistic" about memory loss. NAMI uses it, the APA uses it, as do other sources. It is also quoted in many ECT consent forms. Yet it's made up. Repeated letters and phone calls to NAMI about this misinformation have mostly gone unanswered, except one email I received where a spokesman said "We don't care." Apparently lies are the game of the day for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Read personal accounts of those who have lost their memories from electroshock therapy.

Here are some abstracts on memory/cognitive disturbance from my literature review when I wrote the Voices study on patient views.

From Advances in Therapy: " Chemically or electrically induced fits have profound but short-lived effects on brain function, ie, acute organic brain syndrome."

She was shocked

Electroconvulsive therapy helped to treat her intractable, dangerous depression. But the author was surprised to find out how much of her memory was wiped out.

Quite a bit more on the issue of memory loss in the news section.

More about ECT and Brain Damage here.

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