Does Electroconvulsive Therapy have a place in 21st century evidence-based medicine?

The following is a Presentation by Professor John Read given in March 2024.

Dr. John Read is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of East London. He has published over 180 research papers and in 2022 was listed in Stanford University's register of the top 2% most cited researchers in the world.

He has published six reviews of the ECT research literature (including four in peer-reviewed journals) and made multiple commentaries on the research.

His most recent peer-reviewed review of the ECT literature was a 40-page paper, in 2019, written with Professor Irving Kirsch, Associate Director of Placebo Studies at Harvard Medical School.

He is also the lead researcher on two independent audits of the administration and monitoring of ECT in England's Health Service and co-author of three studies of the accuracy of information provided to ECT patients and their families.

https://www.uel.ac.uk/about-uel/staff/john-read⁠

His latest research:

https://lifeafterect.com/participate-in-groundbreaking-research-share-your-experience-with-electroconvulsive-therapy-in-the-sectaff-survey/

This presentation was in colaboration with Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR)

https://www.nlb.ie/campaigns/mental-health

Full presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY5CTuMbW2w&t=2s

David Russell is an involuntarily committed patient at the Minnesota Mayo Clinic, who has been subjected to forced electroshock therapy (ECT) against his will.

His case has drawn significant attention and advocacy efforts fromMindFreedom International⁠, an organization focused on human rights in mental health care.

Read David’s full story here:⁠https://mindfreedom.org/front-page/david-russell/⁠

Show Notes https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k2m7mZle83Snh_owlJ3B5NbrrkM6mqvg3FV3Z_HGSG8/edit?usp=sharing

Welcome to the Life After ECT podcast!

In this episode, we discuss:

- The reality of forced ECT still happening today.

- MindFreedom International's Shield Program, which helps protect against unwanted psychiatric treatment.

- The importance of psychiatric advance directives to formally assert your treatment preferences.

Learn how these resources can help you or a loved one, and how you can get involved in advocating for human rights in mental health care.

Disclaimers

Life After ECT Inc. is not directly affilated with Mindfreedom International -- we believe they are an invaluble human rights resource and want to make those at risk of forced treatment aware of the support they offer.

About Life After ECT Inc.

Life After ECT Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) charitble organazation dedicated to improving the lives of those harmed by electroconvulsive therapy through education, advocacy and research. Learn more about what we do and how you can support our work: Looking to a Brighter Future for Those Harmed by ECT

Show Notes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FAbX1qa0Z7UQz8vN47dx22ZPHyE1x5ZanWqsiJ73cBo/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1FAbX1qa0Z7UQz8vN47dx22ZPHyE1x5ZanWqsiJ73cBo/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you for tuning into the Life After ECT Podcast.

Life After ECT Inc. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organazation focused on improving the quality of life for those injured by ECT.

Learn more about what we do and how you can support our work: Looking to a Brighter Future for Those Harmed by ECT

Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LrUHhroyOX66T7FUQ0iytyfNoCzmqKN91PQ0LfiKeBI/edit?usp=sharing

Correction: The law firm is now Wisner & Baum, not Baum Headlund

Disenfranchised grief: the unseen pain of those disabled by electroconvulsive therapy In this podcast, I talk about the grief that people disabled by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may experience, which often goes unrecognized. I want to clarify that I am not a mental health professional but someone who has gone through this experience, sharing what has helped my ongoing recovery. (see full disclaimer)

Resources mentioned in the episode: https://lifeafterect.com/disenfranchised-grief-the-unseen-pain-of-those-disabled-by-electroconvulsive-therapy-ect/ Support our mission: https://lifeafterect.com/donate/ Sign our patient safety petition: https://www.change.org/p/standardize-regulate-audit-shock-treatments-electroconvulsive-therapy-or-ect

Linda Andre Testimony - Vermont House Bill H12, Informed consent to electroconvulsive therapy, 1999

Testimony date: 2000

⁠⁠Links to Linda's Work⁠

If you can, please consider supporting Linda's son's GoFund me to cover funeral expenses and preserve her library of research. ⁠⁠Fundraiser by Alandra Markman : Linda Andre's Legacy (gofundme.com)⁠⁠ ( https://www.gofundme.com/f/linda-andre )

Linda Andre Testimony - Vermont House Bill H12, Informed consent to electroconvulsive therapy, 1999

Testimony date: 2000

⁠Links to Linda's Work

If you can, please consider supporting Linda's son's GoFund me to cover funeral expenses and preserve her library of research. ⁠Fundraiser by Alandra Markman : Linda Andre's Legacy (gofundme.com)⁠ ( https://www.gofundme.com/f/linda-andre )

An Interview with Linda Andre by Philip Bennet, recorded several years ago (the recording date was not included in the file). In it they discuss her book, Doctors of Deception, What they Don't Want You to Know About Shock Treatment.

Our community has recently suffered a great loss. Linda Andre, author of one of the most important books on ECT ever written, passed away this month. Linda was my hero. I first came across her work while desperately searching the Internet for answers when ECT damaged my brain and my doctors refused to believe me. Reading her presentation "Electroconvulsive Therapy as a Head Injury" changed my life.

Her work showed me that ECT can cause permanent brain damage and those affected by ECT are routinely denied testing and rehabilitation, as was the case with me. Linda showed me the hope of recovery through the stories of people who found a way to recover when doctors couldn't help them.

There is so much I want to say about Linda, but after ECT, the right words are always so hard to find. Until I can write a full tribute post I wanted to do something so I recorded a small tribute to ger along with her second inteview with Philip Bennet. In it they sumarize key points from her book.

Find links and resources and tributes to Linda Andre in the show notes.