⚠️ Disclaimer This article is for informational and awareness purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and alternative treatments should only be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please seek guidance from a licensed medical practitioner or contact a mental health support service.
Understanding the Procedure and Its Implications for Patients
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) remains one of the most debated treatments in psychiatry. Originally introduced in the 1930s, it involves passing controlled electric currents through the brain to trigger a short seizure, with the aim of relieving severe mental health conditions. Although its supporters argue that it can be effective when other treatments fail, its risks, ethical concerns, and human rights implications have kept it under scrutiny for decades.
What is ECT?
ECT is a medical procedure typically performed in a hospital setting under general anaesthesia. Electrodes are placed on the patient’s scalp, and an electric current is delivered to induce a brief seizure. The treatment is usually administered over several sessions, often two to three times per week for a few weeks.
It is primarily used to treat:
- Severe depression (particularly where there is suicidal intent or resistance to medication)
- Bipolar disorder (in cases of extreme mania or depression)
- Schizophrenia (where other treatments have proven ineffective)
Reported Risks and Fatalities
Despite being promoted as relatively safe in controlled conditions, reports of deaths and long-term harm have surfaced. Some patients describe having their brains “frazzled,” leading to permanent memory loss, cognitive decline, or personality changes. Fatalities, although statistically rare, have been linked to complications such as cardiac arrest, anaesthetic risks, or brain trauma. These cases fuel public mistrust and fears that ECT carries unacceptable dangers. Mother-of-one, 41, found dead in Travelodge bed after ‘irreversible brain damage’ caused by mental health treatment, inquest hears | Daily Mail Online
Side Effects of ECT
While not every patient experiences severe complications, the list of side effects is significant:
- Short-term confusion immediately after treatment
- Memory loss (especially of events close to the time of treatment, which can sometimes be permanent)
- Headaches, nausea, and muscle pain
- Emotional blunting or personality changes
- In rare cases, long-term cognitive impairment
For individuals already vulnerable due to mental illness, these risks can feel like an additional burden rather than a solution.
Human Rights Concerns: Consent and Coercion
One of the most pressing ethical debates surrounding ECT is the issue of consent. Under human rights law, medical treatment should never be forced unless under extreme legal and medical justification. Unfortunately, cases have emerged where individuals in psychiatric institutions have been coerced into undergoing ECT against their will, raising serious concerns under the Human Rights Act 1998 (Article 3: freedom from degrading treatment, and Article 8: right to private life.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also highlighted that coercion in psychiatric settings can amount to a violation of fundamental rights. For patients already suffering, being forced into such an invasive procedure can leave long-lasting emotional scars.
Where is ECT Administered?
ECT is generally performed in:
- Psychiatric hospitals
- Specialist mental health units
- Private clinics offering last-resort psychiatric care
Treatment requires trained psychiatrists, anaesthetists, and nursing staff, with strict medical monitoring. However, the standard of care and oversight varies between facilities, adding to the controversy.
Alternatives and Safer Solutions
While ECT is sometimes described as a “last resort,” alternative approaches exist that are safer and less invasive:
- Medication adjustments (antidepressants, mood stabilisers, antipsychotics)
- Talking therapies (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Trauma-focused therapy)
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) — a non-invasive brain stimulation method without seizures
- Lifestyle-based interventions (structured routines, nutrition, exercise, sleep regulation)
- Peer-support and community care models
- Ketamine/esketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression (in supervised settings)
These approaches demonstrate that recovery and management of mental health conditions do not have to rely on such a physically and emotionally taxing treatment.
Conclusion
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) continues to divide opinion. While some patients report relief from severe symptoms, others experience devastating side effects, with documented cases of brain damage and death fuelling public alarm. Beyond the medical risks, coercion into ECT represents a profound human rights issue that cannot be ignored.
Mental health care must prioritise dignity, autonomy, and the least invasive treatment methods available. With modern therapies, supportive communities, and ongoing innovation in psychiatric medicine, society has both the opportunity and the responsibility to move away from treatments that compromise safety and human rights.
Further Reading & Resources
- Does electroconvulsive therapy cause brain damage: An update – PMC
- Long-Term Adverse Effects After Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): A Narrative Analysis Exploring People’s Experiences, Meaning-Making, and Coping – Life After ECT
- Mother-of-one, 41, found dead in Travelodge bed after ‘irreversible brain damage’ caused by mental health treatment, inquest hears | Daily Mail Online
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- The Advantages and Disadvantages of Electroconvulsive Therapy – Mental Health General
- The mortality rate of electroconvulsive therapy: a systematic review and pooled analysis – PubMed
- Mortality after electroconvulsive therapy | The British Journal of Psychiatry | Cambridge Core
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Andrew Jones is a seasoned journalist renowned for his expertise in current affairs, politics, economics and health reporting. With a career spanning over two decades, he has established himself as a trusted voice in the field, providing insightful analysis and thought-provoking commentary on some of the most pressing issues of our time.