Introduction

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Karen Wells shares her journey of overcoming a difficult childhood and teenage years marked by trauma, homelessness, and mental health issues. She discusses her experiences with delusions, being stalked, and severe depression, and how electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) ultimately became the breakthrough treatment for her.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) has a chequered history, but its modern iteration is nothing like the scenes depicted in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Used to treat severe depression and psychosis, ECT's side effects include some degree of memory loss. We delve into the discussion around benefits vs side effects, and speak to three patients about their varying degrees of success with the treatment.