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prophylactic effect on suicide were true, there would have been an ence in the bodily functions and entails pinpoint haemorrhages in increase in suicide. In fact, the suicide rate dropped, despite pop- the brain tissues. Its application, therefore, is restricted to cases ulation growth!® The results of a study done in 1986 cast further where all other methods of treatment have failed. A course of doubt on the assertion that ECT prevents suicide. The study convulsive therapy is followed by a memory loss of the type of involved 1,494 suicidally depressed patients who were divided retrograde (events prior to the shock) or anterograde (events after into two groups, one of whom received ECT ("the treated group") the shock) amnesia, which is the clinical manifestation of both the while the other did not receive ECT ("the untreated group"). The functional and organic changes occurring in the brain due to the suicide rates were virtually identical. If the claim that ECT pre- electric shock."* The quote comes from a Russian textbook on vented suicide was correct, then the treated group would have had psychiatry, published in 1969. a lower suicide rate. There was evidence of brain damage and memory loss as far Another interesting statistic is that men commit suicide three back as the 1950s regarding ECT; however, the Russians, unlike times more often than women, yet women are given ECT twice as the Americans, did not find this controversial.* In fact, the often as men.* Yet another interesting contradiction is that answer of Soviet psychiatrists to the question of whether ECT patients sometimes suicide after ECT, which of course further caused brain damage was an unequivocal "yes". Amazingly, US debunks the assertion of ECT's prophylactic effect on suicide. In literature on the subject during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s also 1980, a study of 90 patients revealed that, of those who commit- corroborates the Soviet view.” It was only in the 1970s that the ted suicide, 10% of patients had ECT within the previous four matter became controversial, and this corresponded to an increase months, two patients ended their lives whilst in hospital and seven in litigation for medical negligence.” did so shortly after being dis- Those who support ECT claim that charged.” modern ECT does not cause brain Bruce Wiseman, in his book damage and point to the use of oxy- Psychiatry: The Ultimate Betrayal, gen during the process. However, it points out that a great many physi- "The changes one sees when should be noted that supplying a cians and non-physicians alike man- patient with oxygen during ECT may age to deal with suicidal patients electroshock is administered are not prevent permanent brain damage, without ever resorting to ECT. *’ completely consistent with any since the oxygen only prolongs the Only a small number of ECT users seizure and the neurones (nerve cells) express pleasure with the proc acute brain Injury such asa blow die when the substances they use for Others, people such as the patient's to the head from a hammer." fuel are exhausted. The coma that family, take a different view. As follows can occur from lack of nutri- Wiseman remarks: "[They] see a ents, even when an adequate amount person walking about in the murk of of oxygen is present; thus any appar- mental befuddlement, docile and ent benefit from supplying oxygen is uncertain. These things will be likely rendered nugatory by the subsequent not to be noted in his [sic] medical chart, as they are normal ‘side brain damage attributable to a lack of nutrients.* effects’. What will be noted is that his depression is 'responding' Another interesting point to note is that the brain damage that to the treatment."* results from increased blood pressure during ECT is not prevented A study revealed that 50% of ECT patients claimed memory by the use of anaesthetics or muscle relaxants, because it is the impairment was the worst side-effect experienced; however, this brain's enormous demand for oxygen during ECT that causes this was only noted in 7% of charts. Psychiatrists who promote ECT _ brain damage.” regard these "cognitive effects" as irrelevant. The fact that the Psychiatrist Lee Coleman says of modern ECT: "Since neither patient is too confused or disoriented to be depressed seems irrele- the brain nor electricity has changed since the '30s, the result is vant to them.” Often, those who promote ECT comment on the still the same: brain damage."” As concerns the effectiveness of elation that follows treatment; such elation is also a common ECT, Coleman states: "The brain, for a while, is so injured (even after-effect of brain trauma, such as a blow to the head.*° _ children know that electricity is dangerous for them and living Psychiatrists tell patients that ECT will help their depression; things) that the patient is too confused to know or remember what however, studies in 1980 and 1984 found that the depression is troubling them. Unfortunately, when the brain begins to recov- returned after three to six months.” er somewhat, the problems usually return since electricity has Those who defend ECT take differing views on the side effects: done nothing to solve them." some deny that they exist at all; others deny that they are as severe as stated by the patient; while some, like psychiatrist Frank Drug Therapy Guerra, state that "depression is like cancer". As Guerra advised When a psychiatrist prescribes drugs for a patient, the patient is the Denver Post in 1990: "It's a potentially fatal illness. Nobody usually not told about the side effects of the treatment. Often it is says we shouldn't be treating cancer because of the side effects. not explained to the patient that taking psychotropic drugs is not a Everything in medicine has side effects."** Bruce Wiseman cure, any more than getting drunk because one has a problem will queries how so many doctors could miss the obvious. Professor solve that problem. Nor is it explained to patients that the drugs Emeritus of Psychiatry Thomas Szasz notes that psychiatrists they have been given will in many instances cause sexual dys- don't see the full impact of ECT "...because it would be inconsis- function. The following information is an extract from medical tent with their efforts to use it as a treatment. People magnify or literature on psychotropic drugs.” minimise what suits their interests."* Russian psychiatrists baulked at using ECT for the following @ Side Effects of Major Tranquillisers reasons: "Until recently, electroconvulsive therapy was used on a Drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, sensitivity to sunlight, fairly wide scale. The method, however, involves gross interfer- agitation, sexual dysfunction, eye damage, tardive dyskinesia Drug Therapy When a psychiatrist prescribes drugs for a patient, the patient is usually not told about the side effects of the treatment. Often it is not explained to the patient that taking psychotropic drugs is not a cure, any more than getting drunk because one has a problem will solve that problem. Nor is it explained to patients that the drugs they have been given will in many instances cause sexual dys- function. The following information is an extract from medical literature on psychotropic drugs.” Side Effects of Major Tranquillisers Drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, sensitivity to sunlight, agitation, sexual dysfunction, eye damage, tardive dyskinesia NEXUS - 29 DECEMBER 1999 — JANUARY 2000