Doing the best I can

I have a friend who believes #ECT saved his life. I know it completely derailed mine. These statements can both be true because there are 1,000+ possible electrical doses on modern devices and 5 different dosing methods. No two ECT patients have the same ECT experience because there are ZERO dosing consensus standard protocols based on safe dosing limits established by pre-market applications and product development protocols on record with the US FDA (or any other international medical device regulatory body). ECT Providers who boast of recipients whose cognitive function improved (knowing they have done nothing to ensure every patient in community settings receive ECT using the same dosing technique) are akin to irrationally boasting about driving home after drinking alcohol when arriving safely. Their lucky experience does not invalidate those who were permanently maimed by drunk driving or a drunk driver or those whose family members were killed by a drunk driver. To that point, I am a member of a phenomenal team investigating ECT experiences. We just completed the largest international survey ever! More than 1,000 responses detailing ECT experiences of recipients, family members and friends. "The majority (55%-71%) reported either no benefit or a negative outcome on the five measures. The percentages reporting some benefit were: helped the specific problem for which ECT was given-45%; improved mood-41%; generally 'helpful'-41%; improved 'quality of life'-29%; reduced suicidality-33%. Respondents were, unusually, given the option, on four of these measures, to report that the variable had been made worse. The results were: specific problem made worse-37%; worse mood-29%; reduced quality of life-62%; and increased suicidality-19%. The findings were consistent with responses from family and friends. It is striking that nearly half (49%) reported that their quality of life was made 'much worse' (22%) or 'very much worse' (27%) by ECT." -@IJMHN onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/… The next time you hear of a successful ECT recipient, congratulate that provider and ask what they're doing to register their artistic interpretation of dosing guidelines with device regulators as consensus standard protocols so every single colleague can replicate the procedure with equally joyful outcomes to boast about and every prospective recipient can avoid the grieving that comes with 'worse' (let alone 'very much worse') quality of life, or even death of a loved one during or soon after the procedure. #Ethics #AuditECT #AskThePatient @Mad_In_America @MITUKteam