Despite criticism, electroshock therapy commonly used in depression
12.05.2008 22:00
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Despite protests calling for a ban on the treatment, electroshock therapy is frequently used by Canadian psychiatrists to treat severe depression. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) estimates that last year, the procedure, which dates back to 1938 and involves passing electrical currents though the brain to trigger seizures, was used more than 15,000 times in the country. The figure has remained virtually unchanged since 2002, CIHI says, showing that the popularity of the procedure remains strong. A report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal last week shows the procedure is commonly used to treat drug-resistant depression in seniors. However, critics of the procedure believe its usage should be stopped, and it is a painful procedure that leads to brain damage. On Sunday, about a dozen protesters rallied in Ottawa, calling for a ban of the procedure. Protest organizer Sue Clark-Wittenberg had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) 35 years ago, and says it has kept her from getting an education and a good job. "The bottom line is electroshock always damages the brain. Electroshock always causes memory loss," she says. ECT survives calls for banDr. Nizar Ladha, a psychiatrist based in St. John's, has been using ECT for three decades. He says the procedure does induce seizures, but they're not painful and don't cause convulsions. "As an effective and lifesaving treatment, it rates right up there with the discovery of penicillin," he told CBC News. Ladha says he has seen ECT help fight depression and prevent many suicides. The Canadian Psychiatric Association argues that ECT is safe and effective, though the Canadian Medical Association says it can cause memory loss. But Dr. Paul Breggin, a New York-based psychiatrist, is in a minority of psychiatrists who says the procedure should be banned. "We're treating human beings as if they are a very crude machine which can be battered back into shape." Still, Dr. David Goldbloom, a psychiatrist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, predicts it will become even more popular, having survived numerous calls to ban it and two provincial inquiries. "Each time the conclusion is the same — that the balance of evidence supports retaining this to try to help people with depression." Post a commentPeople have commented on this storyRecommend this storyPeople have recommended this storyStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKStory comments (0)Sort:Most recent | First to last | Most recommendedPost your commentNote: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are pre-moderated/reviewed and published according to our submission guidelines. Comment:Characters allowed: 2500PostSubmission policyRelatedInternal LinksWoman awarded $100,000 for CIA-funded electroshockQuirks and Quark: Electroshock therapyIn Depth: Mental healthHealth HeadlinesCelebrex and Aleve show no benefit for Alzheimer's patients00Results from a large U.S. government experiment are dimming hopes that two common painkillers can prevent Alzheimer's disease or slow mental decline in older people. If stressed, men more likely to crave alcohol than women: study00When it comes to stress, women are more likely to be depressed and anxious, while men are more apt to turn to the bottle, suggests a new study. Despite criticism, electroshock therapy commonly used in depression00Despite protests calling for a ban on the treatment, electroshock therapy is frequently used to treat depression.Death toll from child virus in China now 3900Five more children have died of hand, foot and mouth disease in China, bringing the death toll to 39 since late March. Death that sparked train quarantine caused by blood clot00The Ontario coroner's office says a South African woman whose death sparked a full-scale health scare was killed by a blood clot.Health FeaturesIN DEPTHCholeraDisease of disasterIN DEPTHFood PricesRising food costs: Are they sabotaging proper nutrition?CONSUMERCalorie trackerIN DEPTHFoot-and-mouthHuman, animal versions unrelatedHEALTHLightning ProcessControversial training program comes to CanadaPeople who read this also read …
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