Why is eletroshock therapy (also called electroconvulsive therapy) used as a form of treatment for depression and other conditions? Is it effective or cruel? Do you think Illinois should ban the use of eletroshock therapy? Why or why not?
To learn more about electroshock therapy, please visit these sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy
http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20070408211935data_trunc_sys.shtml
http://namiscc.org/newsletters/Sept01/ect.htm
Lena Fatheree
11 comments:
Electroshock therapy is most often used as a treatment for severe major depression which has not responded to other treatment. This is the first time I have heard about this treatment. To me this sounds very cruel to do to a person. It almost sounds like its an electric chair. Although in the sites listed, these treatment seems to work for some people, I still feel that this is not a right way to handle the situation of depression. Illinois should ban the use of ETC because is it just plain mean. To have a convusion that is induced would be so scary. Although these patients are diagnosed with severe depression, I still feel this is no way to deal with it.
Meghan Lehr
I do not agree with electroshock therapy and think it should be banned everywhere. This "therapy" sounds like it just stops short of executing a prisoner by electrocution. It sounds as though this therapy is used as a last alternative for patients who have severe depression, but I cannot believe this is even an option. I read that it has a 60-70 percent response rate, however, it can only be temporary. The depression can return. It can also cause amnesia and brain damage. There are so many different types of medication out there to help with depression I don't think this type of therapy is no longer needed. The patient's medication should be closely monitored, they should seek counseling, and if necessary, hospitalized.
Angie
ECT is used as a form of treatment for depression and other conditions because it causes amnesia. It basically causes the patients to lose memory of whatever caused their condition. I think that even if this treatment is effective, it is entirely too cruel to use on a large numer of patients. I don't think that Illinois should ban the use of electroshock theray, but the state should not be responsible for the people who use this form of "therapy" and suffer amnesia, or brain-damage.
Cory Schlensker
Electroshock therapy stimulates new growth. It also takes away or deletes random memories. Sometimes it is scary. If you forgot imporant like eating. you have to eat to survive life.
From the tesimony in the newsletter it did sound cruel. I know I would not like this done to me. I not a doctor and far from one. I really can't make that decision. But if I have to make a choice I would say don't ban it. Only use it for extreme cases. get alot of paper work to go through so if someone is just doing it to a person the don't like they would have to go through alot of red tape.
Simon Auth
Electroshock thereapoy is used on patients with severe depression or other mental illness becuase they are nonresponsive to other treatments. I have not ever heard of this method, but it sounds like it is not always effective. And from what I read, when it is effective, 50% of the time it's benefits are short lived. I don't think that eledtroshcok therapy should be banned, it may be necessary in some extreme cases, as long as the patient knows what is going on and knows about what side effects could occur. But I would say it should be used with extreme caution and only in the most extreme situations.
Katie Moore
Eletroshock therapy seems like a crule practice, mainly because the only exposure to it has been in a negative light through varius forms of midea. You know the scary insane person straped down and a demented doc getting a sadistic jolly from it. I sure that it is a very perfessional form of treatment though I have never witnessed it first hand. I would have to go with effective. I don't think it should be ban. there are many things that may seem wierd or cruel but we just don't fully understand them.
Jason Gordon
Eletroshock therapy, even the name of it sounds cruel. This is the first time I have heard about this and read about it. After reading the websites about this therapy. It it makes you have convulsions and makes you loss memory, to me that doesn't really sound like a cure. It sounds like they are just trying to erase what is there. I read most times it dosen't work or it causes brain damage. Even though it did mention that this does work sometime it is still very scary and i don't see why anyone would want to erase some of their memory. I believe that if their is no other possible way that you could get rid of your depression and you have tried everything that it would be ok. If this is the only thing that could save a persons life i say that they should let them try this therapy. I am not saying a agree with this method or that i would ever want to,but if the patient and doctors have tryed everything else and this is the last option or dying i believe it would be ok. I do think though they should have to have requirements on when you have the option of taking this therapy, like you have to have used all of the other medications first and things like that.
Jenna Kirts
i do not have a problem with electroshock theropy. i dont think that it would really do much. i think that if people want to try it, it is thier problem. i dont think that it would be cruel unless it is given without permissioln. i dont think that it should be banned just because in some casses it works. sure it is cruel but like i said before it is up to the patient.
Caleb
I do not believe in electroshock therapy. It is very dangerous; I don't see how it can possibly work to cure depression or other things any better than prescription drugs would. I think it is very cruel, and completely pointless--just a way for the doctors to make more money. Illinois, as well as the rest of the country, should definitely ban the use of this awful treatment. It is more of a punishment than a cure, and shouldn't be used on anyone.
Emily Bown
To me ECT sounds a little harsh,but I work at a hospital and see a lot of different test doctors do. If this works, and the right person is preforming it then it should be ok than. The said psychiatric hospitals use it.
jennifer chounard
Hmmmm. I'm not sure if people know enough about this subject before they comment. For instance, I just read these lines in an on-line journal from Wake Forest University:
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) improves mood, quality of life and activities of daily living in patients with major depression, according to researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center,
“Quality of life and function are improved in ECT patients as early as two weeks after the conclusion of ECT,” said Vaughn McCall, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and the lead author, writing in the November issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry.
ECT is a treatment for severe mental illness, especially major depression, in which a brief application of electric stimulus – a shock – is used to produce a generalized seizure.
“ECT produces a net improvement in health for most patients, and should help fill the knowledge gap that recently led to more restrictive guidance on the use of ECT in the United Kingdom,” said McCall. “A restrictive attitude toward ECT is not warranted.”
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So I do wonder if ECT has an undeserved bad rep. Sounds like it needs some looking into before we dismiss it's effectiveness or call it cruel and inhumane. In some cases, it seems, it might be the MOST humane thing to do.
Jason Horath
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