|
Page 2 of 2
The practice received more bad press when it became apparent that certain German psychiatrists had experimented on hapless victims during the Nazi regime.
There were also bad rumors surrounding celebrities who had undergone ECT, such as, author Ernest Hemingway who reportedly shot himself after undergoing shock therapy at the Mayo clinic in 1961.
While the reasons for Hemingway's demise could also be traced to years of excessive alcohol use and his numerous physical ailments, the fact that the famous author expressed despondency over his memory loss did not help the cause of those who advocated the use of ECT in treating victims of mental illness.
Today, despite decades of bad publicity and the introduction of psychotropic medications, the use of ECT has experienced a comeback although in a modified form.
Modern ECT uses a pulsing system rather than the application of consistent current for an extended period of time, according to one local expert.
Another variation is the placement of the electrodes. Previously the electrodes were placed on either temple, with the electrical current running directly through both frontal lobes. Now, according to the same expert, one electrode is placed on the forehead while the other is placed on one temple so that the current only runs through one temporal lobe.
Usually the non-dominant hemisphere of the brain is the one that is shocked, as neurologists have found that the patient's primary memory tends to reside in the dominant hemisphere.
In other words, if someone is right-handed, the right hemisphere of the brain would be exposed to ECT as the left hemisphere is the one that is dominant -- if you are right-handed you are usually left-brained, and visa versa.
"You still induce a seizure but it is less likely to cause memory loss," said one psychiatrist who worked at a leading Philadelphia mental health facility.
Unfortunately, whether memory loss is permanent or not is still a matter of debate. The problem is as difficult to determine as whether an individual who suddenly "remembers" he or she was molested by a priest 20 years ago while undergoing hypnosis is telling the truth or just fabricated the experience.
"Permanent memory loss is still controversial," the same Philadelphia psychiatrist said. "We just can't say for sure how much occurs."
The jury is still out on ECT.
As long as some doctors believe it works and some patients still experience relief when nothing else, including drugs, works, it will likely continue to be used.
next: Riverview Insider Speaks Out
|
