which are the side effects of electroconvulsive therapy? are the irreversible?!


Question: A friend of mine has had three sessions of TEC. She was given them as therapy for depression. After the third session her loss of memory was really frightening: she could not remember how to use the tv remote control, or what she had to do to make up her face (though she was an actress when she was young). She recovered the knowlwedge of how to do these and other things; maybe it was only confusion and not loss of memory. Certainly, she can't remember what happened a month or two ago. She can't remember the crisis which lead her to the hospital and then to TEC, nor that we went to the movies two weeks ago. Will she ever be able to recover these memories? which other side effects we cant expect? are they irreversible?
Answers:
Sorry to hear of your friends difficulties! The opinions regarding ECT and its side effects are widly varied and often contested. One side stating it as almost harmless and the other beleveing it is akin to torture. Finding the truth can be hard and depends on the practioners and individual PT greatly. Most will agree that ther will be some degree of memorey and even motor loss for a period of time. Just how much and how long are of great debate.

Most people suffer the greatest loss in the short term and as their brains "reorganize" over time memorey improves substantualy. There may always be some amnesia surrounding the time of the treatments, but that is usually not of any significance in the long run. Profound long term memorey or motor problems have been linked to improper aplication of ECT treatments, uncontrolled seazures during or post ECT leading to hypoxia or arrest, very long series of treatments or extended treatment cycles for unresponsive or relapsing PTs, and other rare fators or occurances.

If you friend continues to have prolonged difficulties or the symptoms increase, please incurage her to speak with her psychiatrist about the problem. Even if it is something that is affecting her life greatly or a concern to her, she should bring the concerns up to her mental health provider. There are many resources on the web to help both of you in dealing with this problem. Just google ECT side effects or other related topic and you will get lots of hits. Just don't take any one as the absolute word on the matter, look around and decide for yourselves.

Good luck to you and your friend!
Answers:

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