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Bipolar Disorder/Friend receieves ECT

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Expert: - 2/13/2006


Question
Hi,

I'm just wondering about Bipolar issues that are dealt with using
Electro Convulsive Therapy. From my understanding this is often
the last resort for patients that have not responded to
medications, or if they are suicidal and have no time for
medications to work. I have a friend who is getting it again
tommorrow, often she tells how it makes her head hurt and she
forgets things. I've read memory is foggy a few days afterwards,
my real concerns lie in just what logic this method holds. I
realize it's successful, however I would tend to think this would
be due to the physical pain it causes afterwards then anything
else. The body would naturally be somehow effected, thus
causing the individual to loose sight of their mental plight and
focuse on the physical symptoms that might accompany the
treatment. To me this is the only logical conclusion, what do you
think?

I'm somewhat confused also how no one can believe this causes
neurological damage of some sort, or other physical maladies.
It's almost ridiculious in my opinion.

Answer
As a nutritional psychologist I cannot say why ECT is being used. It seems to be pretty drastic.

Thus I would not want to comment at all.


Jurriaan Plesman, BA (Psych) Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
For more articles see
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Bipolar Disorder

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Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist

Expertise

Have worked as a psychotherapist for overv twenty years, dealing with many personality disorders

Experience

I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”. I am also the ex-editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems. Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Organizations
Editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia. Its web site is at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Publications
Author of the book "Getting off the Hook", It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. Various articles in the Hypoglycemic Health Association's Newsletters

Education/Credentials
BA (Psych) (University of Sydney), Post Gad Dip Clin Nutr (International Academy of Nutrition)

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