Is ECT an option?

[Anonymous]

Hi, I posted earlier about my lack of success with Zoloft and Effexor XR.

I think I am going to give Prozac a try (if my doctor allows it) and that will probly be all I try for medication.

Is ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) and option for me?

I'm under 18, so I'm not sure if that would affect the possibility of me being able to have it, and I'm not even sure if my doctor or my parents would allow it.

I've read about it a lot, and it seems like that would be the only thing that could help since medication has had absolutely on effect whatsoever.

Thanks again.

[HFHS-M.D.-HG]

Dear Anonymous

ECT is  rarely used in children and adolescents. Minimum amount of literature is available with ECT in young adults. Study showed that there are response rates of 61 to 100 percent with ECT in adolescents and children. ECT is used in children with refractory depression, mania, schizophrenia etc. ECT treatment can be done only at the doctor's recommendation and it requires consent from parents. You may want to try on different antidepressants before opting for ECT.

Sincerely
HFHS-M.D.

[frances]

My father had intractable depression for years and most medications did not help him.  He found ECT did work for him but the effects do wear off and ECT has to be repeated when that happens.  At your young age it would be preferrable to find a medication or combination of medications that worked since I do feel the ECT left my father with some memory gaps, not enough to keep him from functioning well in society but nevertheless there are things he just does not recall.  Two years ago he had to have heart valve replacements and bypass surgery and they no longer wanted to do ECT on him (he's going on 88 now).  They tried him on a combination of Celexa and of all things, Ritalin.  The Celexa alone didn't work but when they added the Ritalin, what a difference!  He's been on this combination for over a year and he's like a new person.  I recommend you ask your doc about Ritalin and see if it helps you.  Try to hold out for a medication that works for you.  However, if it doesn't no matter what, then ECT is a legitimate and effective way to break up depression that just won't lift.