The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1408472
serotonin boost. According to Dr. Estok, "ECT has a broader range of effect than these medications," which is why it can treat these more complex forms of depression. But ECT's track record of effectiveness has done little to help shed its terrible reputation. Perhaps the enduring stigma of ECT comes down to this question of pain. We've all been told that ECT causes excruciating pain via the media, but how much does ECT hurt in real life? As it turns out, the answer is, 'not at all.' Dr. Estok's patients come into his office for an ECT session and are given anesthesia and a muscle relaxant, shielding them from any pain associated with the electronic impulses. The whole thing takes roughly 10 minutes. Patients are sent home and may experience headaches, stomach aches or muscle pain—each of which can be mitigated with over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and Ibuprofen. It is true that after an ECT session some patients may experience memory problems, especially memories of the moments just before and after the treatment. But any lingering memory issues should resolve in the days following treatment. After the initial course, depression symptoms are kept at bay for six months to a year. Many of Dr. Estok's patients choose to come back every few months for an additional session to sustain the effect. Patients can receive as many ECT sessions as are necessary to treat their symptoms over the course of their lifetime without worrying about long-term repercussions—the treatment is, by all medical estimations, safe. Now that I have a better understanding of the realities of ECT, I am concerned about whether the images we see of it in movies and TV shows have prevented people with refractory depression from seeking it out as a treatment. How many people could have their crippling symptoms of depression lifted if we only normalized ECT? "ECT is a treatment that's been around for decades. Like anything else in medicine, there has been an evolution in terms of how it's done and how it's administered. But it remains a very valid treatment and a very effective treatment—now refined by modern medicine to be painless," Dr. Estok says. V U E N J .C O M 128