Scamper61 asked this question on 4/12/2000:

I had a liver transplant 1-6-99. I have been very depressed which is causing me to feel sick. My doctors are talking about shock treatment to get rid of the depression. I want to know if it works and how I wood feel afterwords.

If you can tell me this I would be very greatful. Please E-Mail me at Scamper61@aol.com Thank you

Desertphile gave this response on 4/21/2000:

Note: I am NOT a doctor!

Why is your doctor suggesting ECT instead of an anti-depressant or cognative therapy? Are you on other medication that would prohibit anti-depressants?

Electro-convulsive Therapy is safe and effective for depression, but it is only used for depressions that have already resisted many other forms of treatment. It is used as a last-resort because of the temporary short-term memory loss associated with ECT. Many people who have received ECT say it saved their lives, but that is because they were so deep in depression ("dense") that suiside was their only alternative.

Has your physician and yourself run through all the other medical treatments for depression? If so, then and only then will you wish to consider ECT. To learn more about the safely and effectiveness of ECT, you may wish to read the book "Handbook of ECT" which is available at Amazon.com

http://www.xenu.net

The average rating for this answer is 4.2.