Electroconvulsive Therapy Experiences - Electroconvulsive Therapy

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

David: At that point in your illness with depression and anxiety, did it even matter what the doctor was saying to you? Were you at the point that you didn't care?

Julaine: I was dying, so to speak, but I could still understand facts. The fact was, this was my only chance to live.

David: How many ECT treatments did you receive and over what period of time?

Julaine: At that time period, about twenty, over two trials, separated by about four months.

David: What were the side effects of ECT that you experienced? And please be very detailed.

Julaine: During that set of ECTs, I did not experience any sign of memory loss. I did have mild headaches afterwards and drowsiness.

David: I think you also mentioned to us that you had delusions. Is that true?

Julaine: Yes, delusions and memory loss were experienced in later trials of ECT treatments. About twelve years later in Florida.

David: So just to clarify, you had a first set of ECT treatments consisting of twenty treatments, in two trials over four months. Then twelve years later you had another set of treatments. How many and over what period of time?

Julaine: That is a fairly good estimate of numbers and time. The last twenty, or so, were done in 1992 and 1995.

David: Why is it that you needed the second series of treatments? And were you afraid that after receiving shock treatments before that, another round of treatments might result in some permanent damage?

Julaine: I had developed hypothyroidism about the time of 1992 and my medication ceased to work. I was tried on all the newer antidepressants at that time, but they did not work.

David: I'm getting some questions about what ECT, Electroconvulsive Therapy is used for. Sometimes called shock therapy or electroshock therapy, it's used to treat treatment resistant depression, i.e., depression that hasn't responded to other lines of treatment, like therapy and antidepressants. It can also be used to treat mania and so you may hear that some people with bipolar disorder have received ECT.

Were you concerned about any permanent brain damage if you underwent another series of ECT?

Julaine: No, because I had no ill effects from the previous times in the 1980's.

David: How serious was the memory loss that you experienced?

Julaine: I combined reality with unreality. Similar to a psychotic patient. I could not remember recent events as well.

David: You also mentioned delusions. Can you describe those for us?

Julaine: I saw a lamp post outside the window and I thought it was a human being.

David: And how long did that last?

Julaine: The delusions were very short in time, perhaps, a week or so. The unreality/reality lasted a few weeks more, and the memory loss of recent time took longer.

David: Do you still suffer from depression and anxiety?

Julaine: I am recovered and am a grad student in Licensed Counseling today, but I am not cured :) I am looking forward to that day when we find a cure :).

David: I read your story, and interestingly, you don't attribute your improvement of the severe depression to ECT.

Julaine: ECTs, rarely, are responsible for someone's recovery, but they buy time.

David: Here's an audience question, Julaine:

tntc: Did you have bilateral ECT or unilateral ECT?

Julaine: I experienced both. The unilateral ECT was not as effective with me since I was so severe.

backfire1: Was the Thyroid disease responsible for some of your previous symptoms and was it treated first?

Julaine: It could have. Undiagnosed thyroid disease can cause depression or prevent your medications from working properly.

aurora23: Lately, I have been having delusions and losing track of time. It is bothering me, what is going on? Sometimes I can't tell the difference from what's fake and reality, can you give me some advice?

Julaine: Delusions are very complex. They can originate from schizophrenia type illnesses, or take that form because of possible trauma.