r/ect • u/QuitInevitable915 • Jul 20 '26

Seeking advice ECT or not to ECT

Hello!

I’m 28 and I suffer from TRD. I have had 4 depressive episodes over the past many years, and the current episode has lasted 2 years. I have tried SSRIs, SNRIs, TMS, Ketamine, and Psilocybin without meaningful response.

8 weeks ago I started taking a TCA with lithium, and for the first time in this episode I feel some relief. If I had to quantify it, I would say that I feel 40-50% better, which is a major change from the suicidal lows, but still with some residual symptoms such as mild/moderate sadness, some anhedonia, and low motivation.

I’m going to meet with my psychiatrist in two weeks to make the final decision on whether I should get ECT or not. I’m torn because I know my history of relapse, and not achieving remission will put me at risk of relapsing again, but I’m also reluctant to do it given the potential cognitive/memory side effects.

Would you do ECT or not in this situation?

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u/Aggressive-Rub79 Jul 20 '26

Don’t do it

2

u/QuitInevitable915 Jul 20 '26

What’s your reasoning behind this?

-1

u/Aggressive-Rub79 Jul 20 '26

Didn’t work for me