Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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deleted_user 07/29/2010

I noticed that many of you are highly concerned about ECT, i thought it would be best to provide you with give some clinical research that I found in the Journal of ECT for patients who are diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. For more information do a Google search on " Journal of ECT" In this journal review, there are some surprising information that lift your spirits!
hope this helps,
psychtech69

In one research study conducted by Penland & Ostroff (2006), they found that using ECT in conjunction with lamitical was a safe and effective method of treating bipolar patients this controversial procedure; in addition to this, they discovered that subjects did not show "worsening of the cognitive abilities (Penland & Ostroff, 2007).

According to Beusekom, Brock, & Birkenhager (2007), they concluded that subjects undergoing long-term ECT treatment show significant reductions(about "42.3") in their relapse rate. The most significant finding in this study is that psychopharmacological treatment (imipriamine) seemed to play a significant factor in reducing future recurrent depressive episodes.

Reference:

Penland, H. & Ostroff, R.(2007). Combined use of Lamotrigine and electroconvulsive therapy in Bipolar Depression.Journal of ECT. 22-issue-9, pp. 142-147
Benusekom, V.; Babette, S.; Van Den Brock, W. & Birkenhager, T. (2007).Long-Term Follow-Up After Successful Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression: A 4 to 8 Year Naturalistic Follow-Up Study. Journal of ECT. 23-Issue 1-pp. 17-20

deleted_user 07/30/2010

aMEN, ANGELa!!

and kat, did you notice that your post didn't actually say...

how you are actually doing on ect...?

i mean...i see a lot of talk about lack of side fx...

if you don't count, of course...the whole...y'know...BRAIN thing...

but what i don't see...is how ect has maybe...i dunno...

eliminated your mood swings...?

put you in a happy space...?

made any hallucinations go away...?

made the depression go away...?

made you a stable and highly functioning person...?

...?

sorry. for me. trigger topic also.

but. still. wondering...

deleted_user 08/20/2010

Have you guys had ECT yourselves? Have you been so depressed your were catatonic, none of the meds worked or had terrible, intolerable side effects? If you have had ECT then you are able to make comments on how you feel about it. As for you who have not, do not be ignorant or closed minded. I stopped ECT 2 months ago after three years of it. It helped me alot, I had big time memory loss, but I had some of it even before starting ECT. Other than that, it did bring me out of my depression. But my depression kept returning after several weeks without the treatments. I decided to stop and see if my changes in my life maybe would make a difference in the severity of my depression being that I am in a much better environment than when I started.

So far its hard to tell where I am, who I am or how I feel. I will keep you guys posted. Until then don't be so quick to judge. There are ten negative things for every one positive one. Keep that in mind, and that everyone is different...Thanks kat

TwilightStar 08/20/2010

whenever Ive met someone who has had ECT for a while they were always kinda zoned out and flat. had bad memory loss and didnt show much emotion either way. seemed a bit checked out and like someone before said, like a vegetable.

Im never letting myself do ECT

deleted_user 08/21/2010

I guess what matters the most here is that everyone reacts differently to every treatment whether it be meds, therapy, ect, or any of the other types of treatments out there. Therefore, no one should be judgemental because probably you have had some type of experience with a treatment someone didn't agree with. It would be nice to have more people supportive of my chosen treatment than to be critical of the treatment when you are ignorant and have no clue what you are talking about, and that I thought would support my choices without having to throw down your critizism of them.

deleted_user 08/21/2010

I'm glad people openly say critical things about ECT, personally. You're missing the point, Ritkat

-The pity truly is that the Medical Establishment has long suppressed negative feedback & criticism of ECT..that's the thing. Most doctors say ECT 'doesn't impact on your memory'. Well, That's Bullshit.

Yes, some benefit from this treatment, it would seem- but do we really want to ignore the many, many people who report negative & traumatic experiences??

deleted_user 08/21/2010

I never said it didn't have side effects. The memory loss sucks, but the depression I was in for almost a year sucked more. It's kinda like the weight gain most psych meds cause. Is it worth it or not. There are a variety of opinions on both. Nothing comes without sacrifice of some sort. I find ECT to be like getting a month of "booster shots" of all of the possible meds, and the only side effect is some short term memory loss. To me it is worth it, it saved my life and the memory loss is a small price to pay. Most people would say the same about what worked for them and it's side effects.

deleted_user 08/21/2010

I had 5 ECT for mania -not even indicated. It remains the worst experience of my life. I can talk - it damaged me - my brain, my feelings, my soul. It is a bad, stupid madman's idea.

Don't do it. It is horrid. It did not help, it just about destroyed me. I have every right to condemn this barbaric treatment supported by who knows what falsified, paid for research.

Don't get this done. I'm begging you. It causes brain damage. Really.

deleted_user 08/21/2010

Ritkat- the opinion you are citing is merely reflecting YOUR experience, goody for you it went well..but you are quite dismissive of those who've had far grimmer outcome.

ECT did not cure my profound depression for which I was hospitalized at length...& it fucked years of memory: as in I can't even remember certain people who were very close to me

& Ritkat- I was given ECT AGAINST MY WILL. This happens every day all over the world (look it up). People other than yourself have EVERY RIGHT to express their grievance, their regret, their sense of trauma & despair about what has befallen them

IT"S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU. Listen to what other's go through..so do well but Not All. You have no right to protest people airing their very real experience.

I really could tell you some horror stories of what others have been through (recorded in court cases) you have no idea.

deleted_user 08/21/2010

I can't remember my partner who died just before I was forcibly given months of ECT, Ritkat..I have to live with this for the rest of my life.
I don't remember a day of University & post grad training, another example. I have ongoing cognitive damage (have had testing)

I'll bitch about ECT as much as I want & will support all others who also need to talk openly about their very real experience.

deleted_user 08/21/2010

"sacrifice of some sort'

You just don't get it.

deleted_user 08/21/2010

I have had ECT. It cured my very deep depression but destroyed parts of my memory.
I think i had the ECT while I was in the psych ward. My husband told me just last week that I had it on an outpatients basis. I can't remember.
Some say the memory loss comes back but i know it did not in my case.

Would I do it again? Yes. I have been through the hell of ten different meds in the last year. If the current combo does not work fully for the depression it will be ECT again.
Susan

deleted_user 08/21/2010

My shrink wouldn't do ECT on me. This was last summer and I was in bed with a deep, soul sucking depression. I only left the house to go see him. I was in hell. I begged him for ECT. I read the book MADNESS by Marya Hornbacher(great book. Read if you haven't) and the author had been hospitalized so many times that finally, in her darkest hour, they did ECT and it helped her. Now she is BP 1 rapid cycling, which she says doctors say is the worst. But my doctor said that ECT is a treatment of absolute last resort. Now hearing stories from yall, it makes me grateful he wanted to do the med route instead.

deleted_user 08/21/2010

lou2, why do you keep calling me ritkat? That is not me I am 5150kat, or just plain kat.
For a while there I wasn't sure who you were lashing out at.

Like I said, everyone pays some sort of price for treatment for our disorder. It was helpful and saved my life. That doesn't mean there were not any draw backs to the treatment, it's just that today it is not at all like "one flew over the cuccoos nest". You are made very comfortable, and really the memory loss and a few other things like I said were worth the price. I have been stopped for over 2 months now, after 3 years of maintenance treatments. I am not sure what will happen now, its kinda scary and I could use some support instead of critisizm.. Thanks

deleted_user 08/21/2010

5150Kat. I told you already- cognitive damage

deleted_user 08/22/2010

I know it was a sacrifice...But it was worth it. I have some cognitive impairment, but I can live with it and it didn't make me retarded!

Defensive mechanism I guess....No hard feelings please!

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