MAUDE Adverse Event Report: ECT; ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY

Device Problem Human-Device Interface Problem (2949)

Patient Problems Emotional Changes (1831); Headache (1880); Memory Loss/Impairment (1958); Nausea (1970); Anxiety (2328); Disability (2371); Shaking/Tremors (2515); Sleep Dysfunction (2517); Cognitive Changes (2551); Confusion/ Disorientation (2553)

Event Type  Injury  

Event Description

I received ect-electroshock therapy to treat depression in 2010 and 2013 from the (b)(6) hosp while a patient at (b)(6) hosp.The first course of 9, i don't remember anything after the second treatment and seemed to recover from it and not sure if it helped or not, but the second course i received of 19 plus was one of the worst experiences of my life and regret doing any ect at all and feel it should be banned.Yes in the short term, it does seem to help depression, but it never lasted more than a couple of weeks and suffered many disorientation, lost touch with reality, complete lack of control over my body at times and unable to eat, drink , dress, communicate.Bad headaches, nausea, brain zap, uncontrollable shaking, waking up in the night with ect nightmares and feelings of being fallen/swallowed up by darkness and black holes with zapping dying feelings is the best of how i can describe it and still every once in a while have having those nightmares.And i feel i suffered permanent brain damage.Before ect, i never had any problems with reading and comprehending and now i do.It has gotten better as time goes on, but it's been 2 years now and still have a hard time reading, doing puzzles etc, and feels just like when i had an ect treatment.Words get jumbled up in my head and my perception around me is different and is hard to explain, but again just feels like when i had an ect treatment but not as severe.Also my long term memory is fine, but my short term memory seems worse off.I try to just keep working through it, in hopes my brain might return back to normal, but i am scared it never will.I am feeling more stable and recovered with my mental illnesses, have been discharges, getting back into life, and want to go back to school so so badly to do something meaningful and helpful, and get off welfare, but i'm scared my brain won't be up to par like it used to be and won't be able to succeed.And i am angry with the doctors and staff who all pressured me and said things like i would never get better or be able to leave the state hosp if i did not do ect and angry with my parents who also really pressured me and everyone telling me it is safe.Luckily, i was transferred to a different unit, the 3rd one, with a better doctor and was able to find a med to help and was discharged and doing much much better, but still feel i suffer from the damaging effects of ect.I'm not sure reporting this is of any help, but i just strongly wish that ect would be banned so one else is traumatized and damaged by ect.I know several other people who have also done ect and all say similar things and how awful it was for them and never really helped.May be for some, they do help, but i've never met anyone, and i'm angry i trusted doctors to let them literally fry my brain and had to go through the awfulness of it.It causes harm, and lasting harm for some and thus should not be used as a form of treatment for depression.Its barbaric and cruel and inhumane even if they are using anesthesia, muscle paralyzers, and drugs.Really, putting innocent people into seizures is ok and making them suffer while going through it.Well for me, it is not ok and i hope ect will no longer be an option.Mental illness is a serious and sad disease with so many suffering, and it just makes me so sad in how people with mental illness can be treated in such cruel ways.Please don't allow ect to be used anymore.

• Brand Name: ECT
• Type of Device: ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY
• MDR Report Key: 4815071
• MDR Text Key: 5924045
• Report Number: MW5042926
• Device Sequence Number: 1
• Product Code: GXC
• Reporter Country Code: US
• Number of Events Reported: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Report Source: Voluntary
• Reporter Occupation: Other
• Type of Report: Initial
• Report Date: 05/23/2015

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Date FDA Received: 05/23/2015
• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: Yes
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: No
• Device Operator: Other
• Patient Sequence Number: 1
• Patient Outcome(s): Hospitalization; Disability
• Patient Age: 35 YR
• Patient Weight: 51