My Uncle Had Electric Shock Treatment, Then Died

Summary

The article discusses the uncle's experience with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for Parkinson's disease, leading to a decline in his health and eventual death, while reflecting on the modern use and risks of ECT.

Abstract

The author's uncle, suffering from Parkinson's disease, underwent ECT to improve his condition. Despite the treatment's potential benefits and established track record for helping patients with movement disorders, he experienced a severe decline in mobility and independence post-treatment. This led to his placement in a dementia care home, where he faced inappropriate treatment due to a lack of cognitive impairment. The article contrasts this personal story with the broader context of ECT's evolution, noting its refinement over time to reduce side effects and its current applications for various mental health conditions, as outlined by institutions like the Mayo Clinic. The uncle's unfortunate outcome is acknowledged as an exception rather than the rule, with the article emphasizing the therapy's overall effectiveness and safety in modern practice.

Opinions

The author's uncle had high hopes for ECT as a life-changing procedure to manage his Parkinson's symptoms.
The uncle's post-treatment experience was negative, resulting in a loss of mobility and dignity, and ultimately his life.
The author reflects on the historical brutality of ECT in Victorian asylums, highlighting the stark contrast with its contemporary, more humane application.
There is an acknowledgment that ECT is generally safer and more effective today, with fewer severe side effects.
The author suggests that while ECT can be beneficial, it is not without risks and does not guarantee a positive outcome for all patients.

A look at ECT therapy in the modern world

My uncle had bad tremors from Parkinson’s disease, so he decided to try a new procedure recommended by his doctor — a type of electrical brain stimulation. This would help him get better control of his movements, and especially his hands. It would have been a life-changing procedure, dramatically improving his quality of life.

He was excited about the opportunity and looked forward to the start of treatment. He was on a waiting list for years. It was a well-researched and established treatment, which had shown good results in many patients.

This study on Movement Disorders, says:

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a well-established treatment for psychiatric disorders, including depression and psychosis. ECT has been reported to be effective in treating such psychiatric symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and has been also reported to be effective in treating motor symptoms.

The conclusion of the study was that the treatment was beneficial for most participants.

My uncle however, after undergoing his treatment, never quite regained his balance. He could walk when he went into hospital. When he came out of hospital he was unsteady on his feet, kept stumbling, and had a fall.

He was almost 7ft tall and his wife couldn’t lift him, so he ended up in a nursing home, where they were better able to care for him, despite his mobility problems. It was a home specifically for people with dementia, but he didn’t have dementia. I guess it was the only suitable accommodation that had space at the time.

Inside the home, he was treated like the others — as if he had no memory, despite the fact that his mind was sharp. He found this incredibly frustrating — they were treating him like he was cognitively impaired and didn’t know what he was saying.

He was unable to walk without assistance, so one evening he asked to be taken to the toilet. Staff helped him get there and forgot about him, so he ended up sitting on the toilet all night, unable to go back to bed.

The experience in the nursing home was horrendous. After that incident, which was the final straw, his family moved him to a better establishment. But he never recovered his ability to walk unaided, and he died sometime later, not of the therapy specifically, but the therapy seemed to mark the start of his decline.

He had diabetes, Parkinson’s, tremors, heart problems, he was obese, and he kept falling and hurting himself. He was not in good shape. I think cardiovascular disease got him in the end.

I thought about him when writing about the old Victorian lunatic asylums where electric-shock therapy was originally used — it was brutal in those days. Patients would claim they were cured from their ailments, just to avoid having to undergo treatment again. It caused memory loss and cognitive impairment. If they were able to hide their condition, they would.

In modern times, electroconvulsive therapies (ECT) are usually used more lightly as a therapeutic tool. Mild electrical brain stimulation techniques are applied to parts of the brain, under general anaesthetic. It’s used as a treatment for various stubborn diseases, ranging from depression, to anorexia (in studies), to movement disorders and schizophrenia.

ECT is still thought to be effective, but it doesn’t work for everyone, and it does carry some risk. However, compared with times past, it’s less likely to be associated with memory loss, trauma, fractured bones and other serious side effects. Today, it’s much more gentle.

The Mayo Clinic says, ECT is used to treat:

Severe depression, especially when accompanied by psychosis, suicidal ideation, or refusal to eat.

Treatment-resistant depression, that doesn’t improve with other treatments.

Severe mania, as part of bipolar disorder.

Catatonia, meaning lack of movement, strange/fast movements, and other symptoms including lack of speech. Common with schizophrenia.

Agitated or aggression dementia patients, to improve their mood and quality of life.