Examining the Reality of Electroconvulsive Therapy
Lisa Morrison received her first session of electroconvulsive therapy at age 19. The procedure took place in South Africa while she was held down on a table inside an asylum. Now 52, Morrison recalls the experience as one defined by over-medication and a total lack of personal choice. She recently co-authored a study published on Aug. 10 in Health Care for Women International. The research examines the long-term impact of ECT and the aftermath many patients face after the current ceases.
The international research project gathered data from 858 participants across 44 different countries. It identified a stark divide in patient outcomes based on gender. Women reported lower levels of mood improvement compared to men. Furthermore, female participants experienced more severe side effects, including both short-term and long-term memory loss. Morrison experienced these gaps firsthand. Following six series of ECT between 2009 and 2016, she struggled with persistent amnesia. She has no memory of the year she spent raising her son while on a work break. Her history of childhood trauma remained unaddressed throughout these clinical interventions.
The Procedure and Public Perception
Public discourse around ECT has sharpened following comments from Paris Jackson. The daughter of Michael Jackson recently told Page Six that she underwent nine ECT treatments in a three-week window after approaching a suicide attempt. She described the process as physically taxing, noting the sharpness of the pain and the disorientation that followed. Jackson recounted the standard clinical setup: donning a gown, receiving anesthesia, and being fitted with a bite guard before the electrical currents are applied.
Medical practitioners point to the history of the procedure to explain its current utility. ECT involves passing electrical currents through the brain to trigger a controlled seizure. The goal is to provide rapid relief for patients with treatment-resistant depression, severe mania, or dementia-related aggression. While modern techniques use anesthesia and lower electrical doses compared to historical methods, the Mayo Clinic still lists potential side effects like confusion, nausea, headaches, and jaw pain. Jackson confirmed that while the therapy provided a temporary effect, the prospect of ongoing monthly shocks felt unsustainable for her lifestyle.
Gender Disparities and Systemic Concerns
Statistical data from the study suggests that the clinical application of ECT contains systemic imbalances. Women are twice as likely as men to receive the treatment. The research team found that 81 percent of the psychiatrists performing these procedures were men. This is despite women making up the majority of the psychiatric workforce in the United States. Coerced consent remains a significant issue as well. Nearly 37 percent of women surveyed felt pressure to agree to the procedure, compared to 22 percent of men.
Sarah Hancock, a San Diego-based co-author, reported significant cognitive decline after her sessions ended. She lost the ability to read, type, and maintain her balance. Her struggle to form new memories lasted for two years post-treatment. Hancock argues that these stories are not outliers but representative of a broken system. The study highlights that many women receive ECT without their clinicians addressing underlying factors like past abuse. The authors suggest that the current research on ECT is outdated and that patients receive insufficient information regarding the risks of cognitive damage. Morrison remains focused on shifting the narrative to ensure that the testimonies of those deemed mentally ill are finally given weight in clinical settings.