Akathisia

[westwrite1]

My 35 year old daughter has been suffering from major depression for over a year. She is now in the hospital for the fifth time and is being treated for akathisia by receiving ECT treatments. I called her on Sunday and she was in a highly agitated state and kept telling me she needed to go. There wasn't any other patient waiting for the phone. She's had 4 treatments in this latest round. She did try to try to harm herself and threatened to fling herself down the stairs at home. She is my only child and because of the pandemic no one can visit her. I don't know what to to or what the long term prognosis is.

[Hidden]

This is just my personal opinion. I have bipolar disorder myself and I'm a 50 year old woman and I just don't believe ECT really is that helpful to anyone. There's a reason it's only used as a last resort. It can cause memory problems and that would be highly distressing for anyone. If she is begging you to get out of there, I would try to call the main desk number and try to talk to the psychiatrist who is treating her about what is going on in there and do they think she's getting any better and voice your daughter's concerns. You might have to make a barrage of phone calls to even get the doctor to talk to you, keep trying. I'm not sure what the protocol is at the hospital but if she doesn't want any more treatments done, she shouldn't be coerced into having more of them done. And when she gets out of the hospital it would be a good idea for her to see a therapist once a week. I really think good therapy can make much more of a difference than all these psychiatrists with all their drugs.

[Snowboarder686]

Hi, I’m very sorry to hear about your daughter and hope her treatment goes well. I will not give any advice on what to do but I also struggle with depression and know family support has helped me a ton.

[Agora1]

Hi westwrite1, I'm sorry your daughter is struggling with this illness. I was under the impression that a patient could sign themselves out but it takes 5 days. Lot of steps

need to be taken to assure her safety. The end results always comes according to the psychiatrist's approval.

Now because she has tried to harm herself at home, I don't think they would allow her

to sign off on treatment. You should be able to have a family consult with the staff and doctor to allow you to know what her long term prognosis is. With Covid being prevalent, it will probably be done as a Zoom meeting.

Wishing both you and your daughter well. We are here to support you through this difficult time. xx