Thanks, Niall, a sobering expose of one of the gurus of psychiatry. I trained around the time when Sargent was at his peak and I remember well the influence he had. At that time also, one senior psychiatrist in town was routinely using 'maintenance ECT', meaning a weekly shot, often for years, and while many of his colleagues whispered their disapproval, nothing was ever done about it. As you say, since psychiatry had no evidence base to challenge this practice, there was nothing that could be done. Carolyn
I'll just correct one small point: it's not an evidence-base that psychiatry lacks, it's a theory base. As they will tell you, they have lots of evidence that ECT is wonderful but the evidence was collected without an over-arching theory. Thus, they can omit the crucial point that plenty of places in the world get by perfectly well and cheaper without ECT. Theory comes before evidence; evidence without theory is prejudice.
I feel fortunate. I spent 13 years in and out of psychiatric wards due to a violent family member. 16 admissions. Forced and coerced drugging.
I’m alive. I’m a survivor.
Those who were killed by the psychiatric Gestapo need to have their voices heard.
Thanks, Niall, a sobering expose of one of the gurus of psychiatry. I trained around the time when Sargent was at his peak and I remember well the influence he had. At that time also, one senior psychiatrist in town was routinely using 'maintenance ECT', meaning a weekly shot, often for years, and while many of his colleagues whispered their disapproval, nothing was ever done about it. As you say, since psychiatry had no evidence base to challenge this practice, there was nothing that could be done. Carolyn
I'll just correct one small point: it's not an evidence-base that psychiatry lacks, it's a theory base. As they will tell you, they have lots of evidence that ECT is wonderful but the evidence was collected without an over-arching theory. Thus, they can omit the crucial point that plenty of places in the world get by perfectly well and cheaper without ECT. Theory comes before evidence; evidence without theory is prejudice.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251632.Hospital_of_the_Transfiguration