Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 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
Hi, Sam . . .

ECT is usually used to treat mania or depression that fails to respond to other treatments or when other treatments are considered too dangerous. For example, early in pregnancy, where there may be a reluctance to give antidepressants, for fear of hurting the futus, ECT can safely be used to treat depression in pregnant women.

I have no idea why your friend is getting ECT. But it is known that ECT does not wrok by inducing pain or other side-effects. People who receive ECT and have no side-effects are as likely to show improvement as those who have many or painful side-effects. For additional information about ECT please see;

http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.ect.html

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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