iCal
Raum:
Saal A6 (Stream/on Demand)
Topic:
Besondere Veranstaltung
English programme
Topic 18: Stimulationsverfahren, internetbasierte Interventionen und andere psychiatrische Therapieformen
Stream/on Demand
Format:
Lecture
Dauer:
75 Minuten
Besonderheiten:
Q&A-Funktion
12:15 Uhr
„Shock tactics”, ethics and fear: an academic and personal perspective on the case against ECT
T. Gergel (London, GB)
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Autor:in:
T. Gergel (London, GB)
Electroconvulsive therapy or ‘shock treatment’ as it is commonly termed, especially by its opponents presents a strange paradox. Widely regarded amongst psychiatrists as perhaps the most effective treatment for debilitating and life-threatening mental illness, it remains probably the most controversial and often vilified psychiatric treatment. Why is the case? There are 3 core charges levelled against ECT, primarily concerning ethical violations – it is cruel, with harms which outweigh benefits and are deliberately minimised or concealed; there is no evidence for effectiveness; and its practice involves excessive use of involuntary treatment. Opponents present it as part of some psychiatric ‘conspiracy’, which would, if true, breach all fundamental principles of medical ethics. I will examine the case against ECT, how it is disseminated and how it has become so influential. Considering both the academic literature and my own experiences of receiving ECT, I will try to dismantle the key accusations levelled at ECT and consider the potential damage and ethical violations implicit within the anti-ECT campaigns themselves. I will explore whether there are ways in which we might aim to counter the misinformation and ignorance surrounding ECT. Finally, I will pose what might be seen as a controversial question - by failing to do substantive suitable and effective research on the phenomenon of ECT-related memory loss, are ECT advocates playing into the hands of their opponents?