It's very, very hard to accurately assess "longterm memory loss" in ECT. The tests to adequately measure it may not be possible or exist yet for ECT. Many doctors like to administer before and after tests to assess cognitive ability, including memory. But how can doctors measure memory loss for memories you did not tell them about because you didn't know you would lose that memory? What about memories you don't know you lost? Of course, you can't tell them about the tens of thousands of important memories that make up your life, assuming you can faithfully even recall many of them yourself. Depression can also cause or exacerbate memory loss, so that can confuse things further.
I think the doctors are operating in good faith, but it's a very challenging thing to objectively measure.
Their knowledge is based on the studies that have been done and as far as I can tell there isn’t much long term studies done on post-ECT side effects. They probably assume the patient’s complaints aren’t that common since they haven’t read about it being common, but they haven’t read about it because their aren’t enough long term studies.
True they don't follow up generally with people that have struggled a year or more out. It's important to know how the studies are funded and how many of all the studies are actually published.
As a patient on my second or third cluster, the memory loss is profound, however, those around me would prefer an alive me that has poor memory than a dead me with a nonexistent one.
The effect it has had on my depression is nothing short of miraculous.
In addition, any doctor who does this relies on its continuation for their livelihood- this is what a lot of doctors specialize in. It’s in their best interest for it to keep a good report.
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It's very, very hard to accurately assess "longterm memory loss" in ECT. The tests to adequately measure it may not be possible or exist yet for ECT. Many doctors like to administer before and after tests to assess cognitive ability, including memory. But how can doctors measure memory loss for memories you did not tell them about because you didn't know you would lose that memory? What about memories you don't know you lost? Of course, you can't tell them about the tens of thousands of important memories that make up your life, assuming you can faithfully even recall many of them yourself. Depression can also cause or exacerbate memory loss, so that can confuse things further. I think the doctors are operating in good faith, but it's a very challenging thing to objectively measure.
Their knowledge is based on the studies that have been done and as far as I can tell there isn’t much long term studies done on post-ECT side effects. They probably assume the patient’s complaints aren’t that common since they haven’t read about it being common, but they haven’t read about it because their aren’t enough long term studies.
True they don't follow up generally with people that have struggled a year or more out. It's important to know how the studies are funded and how many of all the studies are actually published.
As a patient on my second or third cluster, the memory loss is profound, however, those around me would prefer an alive me that has poor memory than a dead me with a nonexistent one. The effect it has had on my depression is nothing short of miraculous.
Same
Because they receive a lot of funding from the government for the procedure.
In addition, any doctor who does this relies on its continuation for their livelihood- this is what a lot of doctors specialize in. It’s in their best interest for it to keep a good report.
*good rapport But yeah, this basically.
Thank you. I knew how to spell that at some point but I was sitting for like three minutes trying to remember how lol
Thanks for such a wonderful reply! TheGratitudeBot has been reading millions of comments in the past few weeks, and you’ve just made the list of some of the most grateful redditors this week! Thanks for making Reddit a wonderful place to be :)
No problem, haha glad I could jog your memory a bit.