Electroconvulsive therapy still has a stigma, with the reputation of being a painful, disturbing procedure that wipes out memories and, if movies are to be believed, even creates zombies. Experts explain the reality—that ECT is a quiet procedure that provokes a short brain seizure, releasing huge amounts of neurotransmitters to reset the brain in what is the quickest and most dependable treatment for severe and often suicidal depression.
Guest Information:
- Dr. Sarah Lisanby, Director, Translation Research, National Institute of Mental Health and Director, NIMH Non-Invasive Neuro-Modulation Unit
- Dr. Dan Maixner, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Michigan
Links for more info:
- National Institute of Mental Health – “Lisanby Chosen to Lead NIMH Division of Translational Research”
- MLive – “U-M Hospital offers improved ‘shock therapy’ as treatment for depression”
Leave a Reply