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From: dyer@harvard.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Depression and (oh, no!) vitamins
Message-ID: <751@harvard.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Mar-86 09:31:54 EST
Article-I.D.: harvard.751
Posted: Mon Mar  3 09:31:54 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 5-Mar-86 04:14:03 EST
References: <1049@terak.UUCP> <6@ur-tut.UUCP>
Reply-To: dyer@harvard.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Distribution: net
Organization: Aiken Comp Lab, Harvard
Lines: 32
Summary: actually, ECT

>This is somewhat unrelated, but I should add: if you
>or a family member needs to undergo ECT (electroconvulsive, electroshock
>therapy), you should know that it is very safe, and the most effective means
>we have for treating severe depression.  The Phil Donohue Show to the
>contrary, most people who undergo it found it very helpful, and would do it
>again if necessary.

A relative of mine began having severe depressive episodes a few
years ago which were resistant to drug therapy, and a course of ECT was
prescribed.  Needless to say, the change was dramatic: within a short time
he was "his old self" again, much to the relief of his wife and children.
It's a shame that movies like "Cuckoos' Nest" still govern the public image
of ECT.  Of course, it doesn't resemble that at all.  The patient is given
a general anesthetic and a muscle relaxant, and an electric stimulus sufficient
to produce a convulsion is administered via two electrodes on the scalp.
The "convulsion" is seen only on the EEG because of the anesthetic and
muscle relaxant.  There are no side-effect other than a mild amnesia for
recent events which fades after a few weeks.  For severely depressed people,
it is MUCH safer than drug therapy because it works rapidly, there is no
occasion for overdosage, and the side-effects of anti-depressant drugs are
avoided.

I guess it STILL sounds a little barbaric, because it it is such a gross
insult to a very complex organ, and it was developed back when empiricism
was the order of the day.  Back then, it was used for all sorts of mental
illnesses, and it is only serendipity and clinical observation which revealed
its effectiveness in severe depressions.  Strangely enough, we still have no
idea why it works, and works so well.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
dyer@harvard.harvard.edu
harvard!dyer