ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates polarised personal accounts of ECT from decades ago, reflecting similar extreme views on the internet today. It discusses current more positive patient perspectives from surveys and elsewhere. Modern procedures for administering ECT including its brief duration, and different options for placing head electrodes are outlined. The chapter examines how ECT might work. It discusses conditions treated with ECT including catatonia, when other treatments have proved ineffective, and the condition is life threatening. Also referred to are recent studies indicating that ECT and antipsychotics combined is more effective than either alone. It is observed that critics may use negative, emotive descriptions of pioneer ECT work; overlook limitations of earlier negative studies of ECT efficacy; and use potentially misleading reference dates for old research. Also noted is that current UK guidance recognises that ECT may risk memory and cognitive impairment. Despite critics’ citing older research, the chapter observes, current evaluations equate mortality with ECT to that of minor procedures using general anaesthetics. It notes that critics interpret research on ECT and brain damage differently from orthodox commentators and may use irrelevant emotive language. Also, current UK guidance citing reviewed studies found no evidence of ECT causing brain damage.
