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Saturday, March 8, 2008

4 Blog Posts about ECT: pregnancy, a love letter, and is ECT the treatment for you?


The first post on PsychCentral about a letter from James Potash, a well-known researcher from Johns Hopkins who has made his career by studying the genetic basis of mood disorders and schizophrenia and possible overlaps. This so called love letter for ABC News is to postive about ECT to the taste of the author: John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

Don’t get me wrong — I know people who have successfully underwent ECT. Most say they are thankful for the option. But it is not the cure-all this article makes it out to be. It is still an extreme procedure requiring a lot of forethought prior to accepting it, and the research is far from clear as to its long-term effectiveness and efficacy.


The other blog post over at: Center for Women’s Mental Health Blog is about pregnancy and ECT
Despite evidence that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for many psychiatric illnesses during pregnancy, many clinicians and patients are still reluctant to pursue this option, concerned that it will harm the fetus or incur extra risk for the patient. Ultimately, the clinician must weigh the risks to both mother and fetus involved in not treating a woman who suffers from severe psychiatric symptoms against the risks involved in ECT treatment, and facilitate the most appropriate clinical intervention for the individual patient.


Related post on this blog:
ECT and pregnancy: a case report

Another excellent explanation of ECT from the department of psychiatry from the Michigan University: ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY (ECT):
IS ECT THE TREATMENT CHOICE FOR YOU?


Why electroconvulsive therapy works on brainblogger



2 comments:

james said...

yup,i too agree on both the sides.its like some people may agree for the option of ECT during pregnancy while other may not.
its still a contravertial discussion.
But to be on the safer side,i think one should opt for this option,because it can even harm your future if proper treatment is not taken on time...
james

Dr. Shock said...

In addition to that it is of importance to have ECT done when pregnant in a setting with experience, possibility to closely monitor the foetus in the third trimester, not only between but also during ECT sessions. So go to an experienced well equipped treatment centre.