This morning, I attended a lecture by Kitty Dukakis on the topic of ECT, covering both her personal experience as a patient and her observations as a writer and lecturer.
Her talk reinforced what she'd written in her latest book, Shock: ECT is effective and safe as treatment for depression and other mental illnesses.
What I found most compelling and admirable is that she gave this lecture during a time when she is receiving ECT treatments. As she noted several times, her depressive periods run on a nine to 10-month cycle. When she notices (or those around her notice) that the symptoms of depression are returning, she arranges for a series of six ECT treatments. She'd scheduled this lecture earlier in the year, not knowing that it would be time for ECT. She has chosen to receive her treatments as the need arises, rather than having a monthly maintenance treatment.
She spoke from notes and often read whole paragraphs. She paused for an extra few seconds as she tried to remember a name. Her good humor was clear, even if the pace of her speaking was measured. She talked candidly about the memory loss associated with ECT. Some of the loss is temporary, some not. She regarded the loss as a trade-off that she was more than willing to accept.
It was good to hear her in the context of a medical school. Several of the questions from the faculty and students sought to know how they could do better: what kinds of service delivery, research, and legislation could help? Ms. Dukakis highlighted the Avera Behavioral Health Center in Souix Falls SD as an example of a comprehensive treatment facility.
So, lest we forget, ECT is not a cure, but it is an effective and safe treatment.
This lecture was part of the Grand Rounds series sponsored by the medical school. I learned about it yesterday in our support group. I saw no signs in the building regarding the lecture nor have I been able to find any mention on the school's web site. I wonder how many people who wanted to attend the lecture who are still wandering those corridors.
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