BRAIN DAMAGE AND MEMORY LOSS FROM ECT OVERALL CONCLUSIONS: - TopicsExpress

BRAIN DAMAGE AND MEMORY LOSS FROM ECT OVERALL CONCLUSIONS: 1.Convulsions caused by electrical shocks to the brain are accompanied by alterations within the brain. Many of the brains natural protections are broken down. Mentioned in particular are the massive rise in blood pressure, the breakdown of cerebral auto regulation of blood flow, and the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. 2.Such changes can lead to alterations in brain chemistry and physiology. The change most easily measured in humans is the alteration of the EEG toward a form that is commonly recognized as pathological. 3. Such changes are also associated in many studies with gross pathology such as brain swelling (edema) and particularly brain hemorrhages which lead to the irreversible death of neurons. 4. Such changes are also associated with persisting, probably permanent amnesias for life events and experiences. 5. Such amnesias may only be detected when patients are questioned in detail about their life histories before and following the administration of shocks. 6. At all levels, from changes in blood pressure to losses in memory, there is extreme variability. Losses can, however, be catastrophic after only a few shocks. In general, the younger and healthier the animal or person, the less permanent damage may result. 7. Such losses of memory can and do occur without any necessary changes in overall intelligence as measured by a psychological test and without any other detectable neurological abnormalities. This finding is common not only with ECT but in brain damage accompanying other kinds of insult such as trauma or toxicity.