ECT

Hi Jenin!

Thank you! As well as hoping to get a job as a psych nurse and wanting to know as much as I can so that I can really help my patients, I also have a friend that had it suggested to her. When I first heard it, I was like "no way" but not because of a stigma against people that have had it but more from very bad things or wrong information from twenty years ago. I am not sure that the stigma will ever go away entirely and until I've been there I try really hard to never judge especially if I don't bother to become informed. People are ignorant about many things in the world and it makes the world a very sad place. Thank you for your valuable input and kindness in responding to me. I would be scared for myself but I admire you so much for admitting a problem and doing something about it! Best Wishes for your continued happiness.

edie

Today was my last day of psych clinical and I had the opportunity to observe a pt receive ECT. It was pretty neat to see. However, I won't be back to see if the pt felt it was helping her or not. Is it true that the ECT makes the blood brain barrier more permeable to the meds as well? I think I have heard someone say that before.

thanx jnurse 13 :)

I have seen it work miracles for my patients! It really is more effective than meds but politics comes into play and insurance companies won't pay unless you've had several failed med trials usually. I believe my boss said ECT as first line of treatment is 50-60% more effective than antidepressants when used initially. Although it is rarely used for Schizophrenic patients I have seen one case in which it eliminated the patients voices completely! Typically bilateral treatment is used to give quicker results but if the patient is having a lot if confusion or for other reasons the doctor will switch to unilateral.

My hospital recently did a study of ECT in dementia patients with behavioral issues and we had great success in alleviating behavioral issues. We also treat behavioral issues in patients who are DD or mentally challenged with mood disorders and its helped some of them as well. We treat a wide range of patients, not just classic depression.

I am a patient currently undergoing pulsed ECT Treatments. My Doctor has been a lifesaver. My only issues with this treatment is once I was given the muscle relaxant a bit too early, and I have both accidentally defecated as well as urinated all over myself during the treatment. I think I may ask about protective underwear during my next treatment. Not sure about going "commando" under my gown again.

I've seen it work wonders for patients. It's often reserved for when other treatment methods have failed.

I'm a student, but deeply interested in psych nursing. I also had between 8-10 rounds of ECT when I was 18. No psychopharmacology was hitting, I was deeply depressed, and my mother and I were looking into long-term residential care.

Three days after I turned 18, I had my first treatment, and when I woke up from the short-term anesthesia, I remember *seeing* differently. Colors were more vibrant and sharp. I went to the grocery store with my mother, and couldn't believe the world looked like this. I had several more treatments, and paired with meds (which I'm off of now), it truly saved my life. The only side effect was a bit of memory issues, which I learned to adapt to (I tell people I only remember the most important things). It was well worth it for me, and I think if more people knew of how beneficial it can be, it would lose some of its stigma.

I'm a student, but deeply interested in psych nursing. I also had between 8-10 rounds of ECT when I was 18. No psychopharmacology was hitting, I was deeply depressed, and my mother and I were looking into long-term residential care.

Three days after I turned 18, I had my first treatment, and when I woke up from the short-term anesthesia, I remember *seeing* differently. Colors were more vibrant and sharp. I went to the grocery store with my mother, and couldn't believe the world looked like this. I had several more treatments, and paired with meds (which I'm off of now), it truly saved my life. The only side effect was a bit of memory issues, which I learned to adapt to (I tell people I only remember the most important things). It was well worth it for me, and I think if more people knew of how beneficial it can be, it would lose some of its stigma.

I just have to say I love your username!

Thank you kindly!

As a psychiatric nurse I can say this - if I was ever in a place where I needed help I would take ECT in a heartbeat. The improvement I have seen in patients, sometimes almost overnight, is amazing. I have seen patients to the point of near starvation from psychosis wake up from treatment and eat a full tray of food.

I would also encourage you to talk to your local ECT provider and see if they would allow you to follow a patient through the treatment. When you get to see it you will say "oh....that's all it is."