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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
ECT and cognitive side effects
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jun 11, 2009 05:22PM
, Jun 11, 2009 05:22PMTo: tws0923
It's very possible that your problems have nothing to do with the ect since it is getting worse, which is not what would be expected....look into other causes.
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Some of the difficulties may diminish with reduced anxiety and sadness and perhaps will improve over time if you persevere with the activities.
Brain damage isn't something that can typically be reversed. If you continue with the activities the brain will likely adapt.
We can never truly return to a previous state and perhaps the most positive thing we can do is focus on our current situation and work to improve that.
It may also be helpful discussing your losses and sadness with a therapist.
It may be possible some of your symptoms will resolve themselves with time. I don't know.
J
Many people have more significant side-effects following many sessions. It is different for each individual though.
Perhaps 'the several' weren't enough to manage the symptoms and underlying issues are rising to the surface again. Some people have maintenance doses. (I would never recommend ect to anybody though (except maybe the doctor who threatened me with it and then I would like to see that unmodified)).
Perhaps the issues relate to feeling misinformed?? Something could be adversely affecting your mood which is making you depressed, hence the cognitive symptoms. Feeling overwhelmed can make these appear worse too.
These are just thoughts, they may not apply to your situation.
J
Are your symptoms getting worse? I think, based on what the doctor wrote and I could be wrong here, but if your symptoms were continuing to get worse then it is unlikely to be due to the ect.
He suggested that if they were getting worse to look at other causes, besides ect.
Has that helped clarify things a little for you?
J