my husband has been treatedfor schizophrenia,i needinfomation on shocktreatments and the side affect

Hello diane stansbury,

You are going through a lot right now and would like some peace of mind I am sure about the decisiion to utilize ECT or not use ECT.

You could Google "shock treatment schizophrenia," for Web site results you would have to evaluate, research and look at carefully.  However, a better option would be to go to the main library in your town or city to speak with a reference librarian who could point you to medical books and resources.  He or she would not be able to give medical advice, but they will be able to do the research for you and point you to the information.

Another option is that big cities (like here in New York City, where we have the New York Academy of Medicine, a research library) may have a medical library.  The main branch of a library system, like here in Brooklyn, also will possibly have a medical librarian trained in finding medical informatiion.

I hope this helps.

All the best,

Chri

Dear Ms. Stansbury, I currently get an ECT every three weeks. It works well to help mt depression. One side effect is I have memory loss. It's manageable. My pdoc and myself are concerned about it. I do know a man who had ECT's and any memory prior to having them is lost. He situation is because the doctor who administered them gave him too many in a short period of time. I feel that his circumstance is rare. I go to a website www.ect.org. .You will get answers to both sides pro and con. There are people there who've had ECT. I hope you find the answers to your questions.

Sincerely,

Dave Robbins

In 1996 I had 19 ECT treatments.  Despite studies to the contrary, ECT did affect me long-term.  My ability to do math (accounting was part of my job at that time) was suddenly gone.  At times I couldn't remember which symbol was the plus sign on my calculator.  I couldn't add 7 + 3 in my head.  And it lasted for about 10 years, only very slowly improving over that time.  It meant I lost my job and was not able to do a number of other jobs, like using a cash register.  And still, I cannot do any multiplication or division w/o a calculator.

For years, I counseled everyone considering ECT to NOT have it done.  But now I have reconsidered.  When I had ECT, I was suicidal at the time and had already attempted suicide 3 times.  ECT wiped out bad memories for a while so that my life was probably saved by it.  It gave me some space/time to have a mental vacation from my problems. 

No, it didn't stop the depression -- that didn't occur for another 8 years.  But now I do think it was the right treatment for me.  Look at expert information online.  Go to sites where consumers comment on it and where you can ask questions.  But most of all, confer with your doctor and ask him any questions you have, and if you trust him, go ahead with it.

Also, I have not had any "booster" ECT sessions since 1996.  But if severe depression occured again, I would certainly consider doing so.

Carolyn

"They found the perfect cure, but they seem to have lost the patient."  earnest hemmingway, after receiving electroconvulsive therapy for his manic-depression (and just before committing suicide).  The only difference between modern convulsive therapy and that performed on hemmingway is that they paralyze you before they do it now, so you don't break your backbone when you arch like a contortionist on the operating table.  It is the worst idea ever created to combat any disease. ever.  its like sticking a fork in a fuse box to turn off a lamp.  It is a tragedy of ignorance propogated by the sons of Josef Mengele.  Its like a psychyatrist telling a person leaches will destill the humours which are causing their despair.