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" When you think of electroshock therapy (now usually called electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT), you probably picture a barbaric practice in which someone is strapped to a chair against her will and forced to endure painful shocks. The reality, however, is pretty different. In fact, it&amp;#039;s considered a highly effective remedy for depression. Carol Kivler, author of &amp;quot;Will I Ever Be the Same Again? Transforming the Face of ECT&amp;quot; provided me with this info to give you a better sense of what going through ECT is actually like: You don&amp;#039;t feel anything because you&amp;#039;re under anesthesia. A blood pressure monitor, pulse monitor, and EKG and EEG leads are used to monitor brain and heart function, ensuring your safety. (A bite block is also inserted to prevent you from biting your tongue.) Electrodes are applied to your head and forehead, while a doctor prepares to adjust the electrical current to the lowest intensity needed. The whole process takes about 10 minutes, and the &amp;quot;shock&amp;quot; itself (an electrical pulse stimulus) lasts just 1-2 seconds. The electrical current triggers a brief seizure, which may alter brain chemistry and provide relief of depression symptoms very quickly (sometimes immediately). Usually a course of 6-12 treatments (over several weeks) is prescribed. Some people experience memory loss, but it&amp;#039;s usually just short-term. Would you ever consider ECT, or do you know anyone who&amp;#039;s tried it? \u2014Barbara Brody, Health Editor "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/a45419/the-truth-about-electroshock-therapy-1921/>