Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is often prescribed as a last resort to treat severe depression, hypermania and psychosis.
What does it involve?
Ect involves an electric current being passed through the brain triggering a seizure. Luckily you are under general anaesthetic while the procedure is carried out. You don’t remember anything. One of the worst things is having the cannula (injection) put in and also when the oxygen mask is put over your face.
The procedure lasts about 15 minutes. You can be disoriented or confused on waking up. For me, however, I used to scream really loudly for 15 minutes. This is quite a rare symptom I believe.
Is ECT safe?
The only symptom I have had is memory loss. I have great swathes of memory loss - things I should remember with ease. I can’t remember going on holiday for one week a few years ago.
ECT has been around for many years now, and these days it’s not too bad a procedure compared to how it used to be. If you are sectioned you can be forced to have it if you’re desperately ill which I don't agree with.
ECT worked incredibly well for me. I went in with psychotic mania and after a few weeks was feeling a lot better. It truly helped me so I would like to thank my psychiatrist for prescribing it. However it is a very scary procedure.
Conclusion
Although ECT is sometimes alarming I could just about get through the procedure without suffering from too much anxiety. However I fear that some other people might be absolutely terrified of the procedure as it is very drastic. I feel people should have more of a say about whether they want to undergo ECT. I do not think there is enough consent at the moment. Despite my reservations I was forced to have ECT because I was sectioned. However, as I stated above, I’m pleased I had it because it got me out of the most extreme mania imaginable. My view is that it should only be prescribed to people who are treatment resistant to which ECT is very much a last resort.
ECT was first practiced in 1938 by an Italian psychiatrist. I imagine that early procedure must have been draconian! I think things have come on a long way now…
In the 2018 - 2019 period, 68% of people treated with ECT were classified as either "much improved" or "very much improved" at the end of their treatment