What is ECT? Does it really help a person with severe depression?
ECT as others have said has been used for years, when it was first discovered it was used for all mental illnesses and practised in an unsafe manner, it is now used with a lot more humanity. Before they would just use a standard dose nowadays they slowly increase the dose until the patient has a small fit, (the fit represents the brain reseting). There is still not much conclusive evidence to state how it works but does have mircalous effects when other treatments (medication & therapy) haven’t worked. Some people joke and say there are more risks from the anesthetic than ECT, but risks from ECT involve short term memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Although it is used rarely these days it is being used more in older peoples services. There are thousands of websites and books out there, but the problem with them is they all tend to be very much for or against it, i havent seen any which give a fair all round view.
