Electroshock: Good or Bad

Electroshock therapy was once considered to be barbaric and it used to be done in a much different manner, causing severe physical side effects on the person affected. Nowadays, there are some benefits to certain people who suffer from depression, schizophrenia and other mental problems that have not been resolved with drug therapy and psychotherapy alone. This is not to say that there are not still harmful side effects that one may suffer because of electroshock therapy too. This treatment is not the answer for everyone, and each person needs to decide for themselves with their psychiatrist whether this is the best treatment for them.

Electroshock therapy's benefits are that a severely depressed person may not feel as down after a series of 6-10 treatments. These treatments are small electrical conductions that are purposefully sent to the brain of the individual causing small seizures. No one understands how this treatment works on the brain. It seems to be a quick and effective treatment for abolishing the bad feelings associated with depression. There is a mild sedative and muscle relaxant given prior to the treatment to avoid any broken bones or muscle injuries associated with having a seizure.

One of the main side effects of electroshock therapy is that the patient will often describe a form of memory loss. This treatment also seems to cause a severe headache and various muscle aches after the treatment. Relapse into severe depression is high and usually results after 4 weeks after treatment has ended. Cognitive deficits like a loss of IQ have also been reported after treatment in a study conducted and reported in the Neuropsychopharmacology magazine.