ECT Treatment of RLS & Depression

    
      Re: ECT Treatment of RLS & Depression
    


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Posted by ccf neuro M.D. on May 25, 1997 at 11:29:11:

In Reply to: ECT Treatment of RLS & Depression posted by Vince  on May 13, 1997 at 19:00:57:

: Do you know of any research or even anecdotal cases on
  the effect of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Restless Leg
  Syndrome (and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder)?. I have
  suffered from RLS/PLMD and major depression for about
  12 years and have tried many, many prescription drugs -
  with temporary or suboptimal results, at best.
  (There are still a few I haven't tried).  I have been
  told by a neurologist that ECT would help both of my
  conditions, but I want to find some support to this
  claim before I subject myself to ECT.
==========================================================
Vince, There are no articles in the past 30 years in the medical literature as per my Medline search on your behalf that document even anecdotal cases of using ECT for restless legs syndrome. ECT is often a safe, effective treatment for otherwise untreatable depression. As such, if your depression improves, medical problems that you have may seem less severe as your general outlook on life improves. Pain conditions in particular often improve with the effective treatment of depression. As to whether or not you should proceed with ECT, I think this decision should be up to your psychiatrist based on her or his assessment of th elevel of severity of your depression. I do not personally feel than any neurologist, including myself, is professionally qualified to make such a decision, and would certainly not recommend ECT for the treatment of restless legs syndrome. If you would be interested in a second opinion at the Cleveland Clinic, I would suggest Dr. Stanley Burns of our movement disorders section of the
department of neurology, in conjunction with one of our psychiatrists--- I would recommend in particular Dr. George Tesar or Dr. Malone, both of whom are very down to earth, strikingly ordinary people interested in helping persons like yourself who have chemical imbalances in their brains that produce the depression, and perhaps as well the restless legs. The department of neurology appointrment number is 216-444-5559 or 1-800-223-2273 ext. 45559; the same 1-800# could connect you to psychiatry appointments as well.
  Thank you.