Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 12/29/2006

Question
My Mother is 63. She has been severley depressed for 4
years now. she spent her first year of depression staying in bed cring, then up and down after that. She has been seeing a phychiatrist who has just recently diagnost to be bipolar.  She has been on every medication I can think of, except for depoke.  She's getting worse. she does not want to be here at all.  She keeps hanging on for the sake of me and my kids. Her doctor wants her in the hospital to try electric shock therapy.  She doesn't want to do it.
So 3 quetions.    What are your thoughts on Shock therapy?
And do I try and push my Mom into going out of the house, to a movie or something, or do I just let her lay in bed all day, waiting for a new medication to kick in and work.
Also, My Grandmother and Great Grandmother on my Mom's side both were hopitalized with nervous breakdowns.  What can I do to insure this won't happen to me?  

Tamme

Answer
So 3 questions.    What are your thoughts on Shock therapy?

I think hat when someone has been seriously depressed despite treatment with three antidepressants (of different types) ECT makes sense.
And do I try and push my Mom into going out of the house, to a movie or something, or do I just let her lay in bed all day, waiting for a new medication to kick in and work.

For a depressed person to spend more than 8-hours per 24 in bed is a BIG mistake. Please see:
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.hints.html

Also, My Grandmother and Great Grandmother on my Mom's side both were hospitalized with nervous breakdowns.  What can I do to insure this won't happen to me?  

knowing that you are at risk for psychiatric problems is a big plus. if you become aware of mood problems do not hesitate to seek treatment. In your situation it would be better to seek help unnecessarily, than go into denial mode and go for weeks ort months with an untreated mood disorder.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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