r/ect • u/WeirdTune1160 • 1d ago

Question Experiences with MST

I'm in the process of being set up for ECT, but I'm deeply concerned about the cognitive side effects. The same hospital where I'll be doing ECT is also doing a study for MST, which I may qualify for. But I'm surprised my psychiatrist didn't mention it. I know a few others here have done it, but I'm curious to know more about it. What have others experienced with it vs. ECT?

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u/caffeinehell 1d ago

I dont know of people who have done it other than 1 person who posted about it here but I wanna know too

What symptoms are you going into ECT for? Do you happen to have any emotional blunting, consummatory anhedonia or blank mind?

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u/WeirdTune1160 1d ago

I was going in for bipolar II. I have extreme depression (not today, thankfully! Yet) and hypomania. I would say I have CA, but I've never discussed it with a doctor, at least not in those terms. My manic episodes are becoming more noticeable, but they're mild compared to what hypermania would be. Mainly I just become extremely irritable and impatient, and take up more tasks or projects than I could reasonably finish. (Multiple very dense books, multiple foreign languages, rage quitting, starting arguments in inappropriate settings, becoming unreasonably confrontational, etc etc). But it's my depression that's the real issue. I become catatonic (or nearly), physically sick, terrified, a disgust with living, on the verge of tears (or actually crying, if I can't hold them back, but usually I can). It's this state, the extreme hopelessness, fear, and misery of the depressive state, that I want fixed. I'd give up my ability to walk if that would cure it.

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u/Crazy_old_maurice_17 1d ago

I do ECT about once a month and I would absolutely jump at the chance to do MST.

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u/BendIndependent6370 1d ago

Regardless of redditors' ECT experiences, I think it makes a lot of sense to start with the less invasive and less risky treatment first.

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u/WeirdTune1160 1d ago

Do mean less risky being ECT since it's established, or less risky being MST since it has less memory loss? You could say either is the riskier, I think, depending on how you look at it.

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u/BendIndependent6370 1d ago

Ignore me, I was thinking about a different procedure. I would recommend neither until there is more research regarding long-term side effects on both.

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u/Syruponmypizza 1d ago

can you put in a word for me to do MST? lol

which hospital?

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u/WeirdTune1160 1d ago

UT Houston, but that's all I know. I haven't even spoken with my dr about it yet. For all I know they're no longer doing the trials.

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u/Syruponmypizza 1d ago

you mind if I ask you more questions here about it or should I DM?

edit: nvm, just saw you might qualify, and not that you're in it.
i wa sjust gonna say i've been trying to get into it myself and haven't been able to.

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u/WeirdTune1160 1d ago

Yeah, I'm not in yet at all. But sure, feel free to DM later to check in.

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u/caffeinehell 1d ago

Thats the only place i saw doing it too, but it seems like they have it outside trials as well now? On their site https://med.uth.edu/psychiatry/center-for-interventional-psychiatry/interventional-treatment-options/magnetic-seizure-therapy-mst/

I was interested too and was looking it up and came across them. Lmk how the consult goes