Anonymous asked this question on 4/13/2000:

Please experts, make sure you know exactly what you're talking about before you give a reply to a request for advice. An answer based on hearsay or opinion especially in this case is totally unacceptable and can do more harm than good. Case in point - the recent request for advice on ECT. If you are not a trained professional who is thoroughly familiar with this procedure or a patient who has gone through a series of treatments, how can you conscientiously answer this person? Please, stick to what you really know about. Nobody's an expert at everything. Just because you're signed up here doesn't mean you have to answer every post.

- Concerned

jay2000 gave this response on 4/14/2000:

Seems to me there are two kinds of "experts" here. Those who are trained, educated, licensed - whatever; and those who have been through bouts of depression (or whatever other topics are at this site). I don't claim to be an expert on how to treat depression. I've just been there. I know what it feels like. I know what helped me and what didn't. That's all. And if I can offer any comfort to anybody, that's my goal here.

The average rating for this answer is 3.3.

Anonymous rated this answer a 3.