Christopher, Thank-you for your excellent article on your efforts to change legislation in your state seeking to expand access to involuntary electroshock treatment (ECT). ECT remains a risky endeavor without evidence of its long-term benefits. The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has warned that: “…The long-term safety and effectiveness of ECT treatment has not been demonstrated.” (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-882/subpart-F/section-882.5940).
I have written two articles for MIA on my experiences at the Pontiac State Hospital in Pontiac, Mi, and one on ECT (State Hospital Memories: More of My Story, State Hospital Memories, and the Shady World of Shock Treatment). In my article “More of My Story” part of what I had to say in the article as originally submitted on why I believed I had significant brain damage from ECT was not included in the published version. I would like to provide the omitted portion at this time. First, some context. I was committed at age 16 to Pontiac. This was in Jan.1960, but the hospital building constructed in the 19th century had no heat in the bedrooms.
Here is what was omitted, beginning with a part of the published portion for better understanding: “I was at Pontiac for only a short time when they made me have shock treatments (AKA: Electroconvulsive Therapy, ECT, Electroshock, or, simply, Shock). The treatments always began with a heavy male nurse giving me a shot of Scopolamine in the butt to prevent me choking on my saliva or vomiting during the procedure. Then, he had me put on a loose-fitting hospital gown, had me wait in an unheated bedroom (it was winter!) where others were waiting, and locked the door. I couldnāt help shaking from the cold and thinking about what horrible thing was going to happen next!
It wasnāt long before the door opened again, and the male nurse started calling us out in the hall, one-by-one. Each time I started to panic, thinking it would be me. Sometimes I heard loud screaming in the hall, and suddenly it would stop. I wondered just what was going on. Once or twice, somebody refused to go, and two big men came in and carried them out screaming. Finally, it was my turn, and I went out in the hallway. There was a stretcher with a white sheet and pillow, and people were standing around it.
Back to my 2020 account: ā…I had to lie down onā¦[the]ā¦ stretcher, and then the doctorā¦ wrap[ped] a tourniquet around my arm andā¦[had] me make a fistā¦[And]ā¦ he injected me with something and released the tourniquet. [Within] seconds, I couldnāt breathe. It was so terrifying ā¦.it goes beyond words to describe! ā¦[Later] I found out the doctor must have injected me with a muscle relaxant [e.g., Anectine/Succinylcholine Chloride] without putting me to sleepā¦For a long time] Iā¦had to struggle to find the words to say simple things. What came out wasnāt always what I wanted, but something that rhymed or was similar in some way. Likewise, I had a hard time finding words when I was working on school papers, and a lot of trouble with spelling, punctuation, and grammarā¦ With some effort Iād been an āAā and āBā student at my high school before [the state hospital]ā¦, but after Iā¦ returned I had to struggle to get āBāsā and āCās.ā A big chunk of my past learning was lost, and it was much harder to learn new thingsā¦.ā
As soon as I came across aphasia in Psychology Graduate School, I knew thatās what I had! āAphasiaā¦ refer[s] to a language disorder apparent in speech, in writing (also called agraphia), or in reading (also called alexia)ā¦[resulting from damage to]ā¦ brain areas specialized in these functionsā¦Paraphasia [is] the production of unintended syllables, words, or phrases during speechā¦[P]eople with paraphasia either distort the intended word (for example āpikeā for āpipeā) or produce a completely unintended word (for example, āmy motherā instead of āmy wifeā).ā (Brian Kolb, Ph.D., and Ian Wishaw, Ph.D., Neuropsychologists, Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology, 7th Ed.,2015, p. 536).
Aphasia? Was there a specific kind of aphasia I had? āOne common type of aphasic speech pattern has been classified as nonfluent. Nonfluent output is sparse, effortful, contain primarily nouns (substantive words), is agrammatic, and contains frequent word finding pauses.ā (Richard Strub, M.D., Neurologist, and F. William Black Ph.D., Neuropsychologist, The Mental Statis Examination in Neurology, 1977, Pp. 41-2).”
I had an interesting exchange with someone who went to the same high school in Michigan as I did, who is now a prominent attorney in the state. I sent him a link to this article describing the horrendous experiences I had at the Pontiac State Hospital, and this was his reply:
” I represented people who were imprisoned at Pontiac Sate, Eloise, and Traverse City mental hospitals. Medieval dungeons at best!! Shock treatments and frontal lobotomies were de rigeur for the day!… Mike, let’s get that bastard doctor who gave you shock treatment!”
our story is truly inspiring! After my own experiences in a state hospital when I was 16 (see “Committed at 16: Memories of a State Hospital” on this site) I was also truly lost. After ECT I had lost a good part of my academic skills. When I returned to school, I could not do what I could before. It seemed my family was always coming down on me for every little thing with threats of returning me to the state hospital. And my head was so full of frighting thought about the state hospital and shock treatments, I could hardly think. On top of that my father wouldn’t take me to anywhere for help, and our family doctor was constantly spouting genetics theories of mental illness to me. Hewanted me to accept I was had a “genetic illness” and was more-or-less doomed for life. On top of everything, he refused to prescribe psychiatric medicine for me. It was years before I was able to recover a semblance of my former self.
I’m sorry you had such a hard time with your illness. Shock treatment is not the “miracle” some would make it out to be. Just the opposite. Everybody’s experience is different. Mine was at 16 when I was committed to a state hospital. I was given the muscle relaxant without a sedative, and experienced excruciating pain. Afterwards, I had daily painful, intrusive memories which made it hard for me to concentrate on anything else for years, long-lasting depression, a loss of the capacity to learn, and a decline in school grades. The FDA warns that: āā¦The long-term safety and effectiveness of ECT treatment has not been demonstrated.ā (Code of Federal Regulation, Electroconvulsive Therapy Device, 21 CFR 882.5940). If you are interested, you can read more about my horrible experiences in MAD:
“The Shady World of Shock Treatment,” and “Committed at 16: Memories of a State Hospital.”
Lori, You are not alone in being tragically left behind by Psychiatry. My parents didn’t get me the help I needed from a mental health professional for the three years I showed symptoms before I had to be hospitalized when I was 16. The care I received in the hospital was horrendous and left me with problems for the rest of my life. If you’re interested, I’ve written about my own experiences. (See “Memories of a State Hospital” in MAD).
I was a surprised to see that the NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, has devised a new plan for the involuntary commitment of homeless persons who cannot take care of themselves due to mental illness. In recent time there has been a great effort in this country to not institutionalize vast numbers of people in run down public facilities against their will as in the past. Starting in the 1960ās, after the introduction of new psychiatric medications and Social Security Disability (SSI), a vast exodus from the state hospitals was begun. With little or no planning, those who had no other resources were placed in for-profit private foster homes or residential hotels where they received little or none of the care they needed. Increasing, a large number who didnāt fit there or anywhere else were left to fend for themselves on the streets. Belatedly, public officials have been forced to cope with the problems of this vast number of displaced individuals. Unfortunately, it is doubtful that Mayor Adams or other public officials are prepared to deal with the magnitude or complexity of the problem. What is needed is not a return to the overcrowded state hospital and their abuse and neglect of the mentally ill of the past, but an upgraded hospital system and discharge to facilities offering ample mental health and other services. Otherwise, after a brief stint in the hospital to get symptoms under control, it is a return to the streets and a recurrence of problems. Also of concern is Mayor Adamās idea of involuntary commitment following a brief evaluation by police officers. There have been too many complaints about commitments based on flimsy grounds and the outright dishonesty to hospitals where they are held against their will for extended periods of time.
Dear Kathleen, After my own experience with ECT (āCommitted at 16: State Hospital Memories,ā MIA, Jan.23, 2000), I was very interested in what you had to say. You mentioned that you were initially apprehensive about losing previous memories. The fact is a goodly number of people do have serious post-ECT memory difficulties. Some are so seriously damaged that they cannot ever resume their former education or employment. Unfortunately, there has never been a valid determination of what proportion of ECT patients have serious long-term memory difficulties. If that were known, prospective ECT patients would know the risk theyāre taking. But the way things are it is hard to know even thatāsomething like playing the crap tables at Las Vegas or even Russian Roulette. For the short-term relief ECT provides, it just doesnāt seem worth it. You said that even now, four years later, your capacity for rote learning and memory are ācompletely shot.ā You ask why isnāt the Psychiatric care system more responsible? You, like so many of the rest of us who have suffered, deserve answers, not more misinformation and false promises. Here is the bottom line: The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) warns that āā¦When used as intendedā¦ [an ECT device]ā¦ provides short-term relief of symptoms. The long-term safety and effectiveness of ECT treatment has not been demonstrated.ā (21 CFR 882.5940 (b)(1)(ix)(G)).
Marni, The posted article has fewer references than the original to make it more readable. The original had over 50 references to books, articles, and federal statutes. I’d be glad to send it to you If you have a Facebook page, send me a friend request, and I’ll send the original to you. My Facebook name is Michael E. Sturman. Otherwise, Facebook will not allow us to connect. Or an e-mail would do. I think when you see the original article, you’ll see there is good reason to question the safety and effectiveness of ECT for many people. I am sure you are aware there are always some people who benefit from the placebo effect of a medical procedure or drug when others report no effect or harm. That’s why I argue it’s important to find out what’s going on with MRI scan and Neuropsychological testing. I think it is wrong to go on with ECT “as usual” without knowing more.
Come trip with me to old Commitment State
Where they rot your brain with electroshock,
Until half of what you learned was forgot.
And tranquilizers keep you half dead, half awake.
Thereās no good treatment hereādonāt make a mistake!
Nor terrorism something you just hear about in the news.
They kick your ass and choke you until youāre black-n- blue.
And then they lie about what they do.
No sweet memories of Old Commitment State!
Just nightmares to haunt you asleep or awake!
You might consider the DK Law Group. Their main office is in California but they have offices nationwide. They were the ones who represented the plaintiffs successful in a recent law suit against the manufacturers of electroshock machines for failure to warn of the risks in using their equipment. Also, you can contact your local lawyer’s referral service or bar association to find someone to represent you.
Laura, I know what it’s like to be caught in a mental health system that grossly fails to provide for your needs. If you like, you can read my personal account of what the state hospital was like for me at 16 under my name on this website. Don’t give up! Perhaps now your Psychiatrist and social worker will find another way for you after they see your article and all the support you’ve received. Why don’t you send it to them? Also, a lawyer who does mental health work could help. Michael E. Sturman, M.A.
What protections against revealing their mental health history do those with such histories have? I can imagine what would happen if an employer or prospective employer learned that you had a history of schizophrenia. Does the Americans with Disabilities Act or other laws offer protection? If so, where can I find the relevant sections of the statutes?
Christopher, Thank-you for your excellent article on your efforts to change legislation in your state seeking to expand access to involuntary electroshock treatment (ECT). ECT remains a risky endeavor without evidence of its long-term benefits. The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has warned that: “…The long-term safety and effectiveness of ECT treatment has not been demonstrated.” (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-882/subpart-F/section-882.5940).
I have written two articles for MIA on my experiences at the Pontiac State Hospital in Pontiac, Mi, and one on ECT (State Hospital Memories: More of My Story, State Hospital Memories, and the Shady World of Shock Treatment). In my article “More of My Story” part of what I had to say in the article as originally submitted on why I believed I had significant brain damage from ECT was not included in the published version. I would like to provide the omitted portion at this time. First, some context. I was committed at age 16 to Pontiac. This was in Jan.1960, but the hospital building constructed in the 19th century had no heat in the bedrooms.
Here is what was omitted, beginning with a part of the published portion for better understanding: “I was at Pontiac for only a short time when they made me have shock treatments (AKA: Electroconvulsive Therapy, ECT, Electroshock, or, simply, Shock). The treatments always began with a heavy male nurse giving me a shot of Scopolamine in the butt to prevent me choking on my saliva or vomiting during the procedure. Then, he had me put on a loose-fitting hospital gown, had me wait in an unheated bedroom (it was winter!) where others were waiting, and locked the door. I couldnāt help shaking from the cold and thinking about what horrible thing was going to happen next!
It wasnāt long before the door opened again, and the male nurse started calling us out in the hall, one-by-one. Each time I started to panic, thinking it would be me. Sometimes I heard loud screaming in the hall, and suddenly it would stop. I wondered just what was going on. Once or twice, somebody refused to go, and two big men came in and carried them out screaming. Finally, it was my turn, and I went out in the hallway. There was a stretcher with a white sheet and pillow, and people were standing around it.
Back to my 2020 account: ā…I had to lie down onā¦[the]ā¦ stretcher, and then the doctorā¦ wrap[ped] a tourniquet around my arm andā¦[had] me make a fistā¦[And]ā¦ he injected me with something and released the tourniquet. [Within] seconds, I couldnāt breathe. It was so terrifying ā¦.it goes beyond words to describe! ā¦[Later] I found out the doctor must have injected me with a muscle relaxant [e.g., Anectine/Succinylcholine Chloride] without putting me to sleepā¦For a long time] Iā¦had to struggle to find the words to say simple things. What came out wasnāt always what I wanted, but something that rhymed or was similar in some way. Likewise, I had a hard time finding words when I was working on school papers, and a lot of trouble with spelling, punctuation, and grammarā¦ With some effort Iād been an āAā and āBā student at my high school before [the state hospital]ā¦, but after Iā¦ returned I had to struggle to get āBāsā and āCās.ā A big chunk of my past learning was lost, and it was much harder to learn new thingsā¦.ā
As soon as I came across aphasia in Psychology Graduate School, I knew thatās what I had! āAphasiaā¦ refer[s] to a language disorder apparent in speech, in writing (also called agraphia), or in reading (also called alexia)ā¦[resulting from damage to]ā¦ brain areas specialized in these functionsā¦Paraphasia [is] the production of unintended syllables, words, or phrases during speechā¦[P]eople with paraphasia either distort the intended word (for example āpikeā for āpipeā) or produce a completely unintended word (for example, āmy motherā instead of āmy wifeā).ā (Brian Kolb, Ph.D., and Ian Wishaw, Ph.D., Neuropsychologists, Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology, 7th Ed.,2015, p. 536).
Aphasia? Was there a specific kind of aphasia I had? āOne common type of aphasic speech pattern has been classified as nonfluent. Nonfluent output is sparse, effortful, contain primarily nouns (substantive words), is agrammatic, and contains frequent word finding pauses.ā (Richard Strub, M.D., Neurologist, and F. William Black Ph.D., Neuropsychologist, The Mental Statis Examination in Neurology, 1977, Pp. 41-2).”
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I had an interesting exchange with someone who went to the same high school in Michigan as I did, who is now a prominent attorney in the state. I sent him a link to this article describing the horrendous experiences I had at the Pontiac State Hospital, and this was his reply:
” I represented people who were imprisoned at Pontiac Sate, Eloise, and Traverse City mental hospitals. Medieval dungeons at best!! Shock treatments and frontal lobotomies were de rigeur for the day!… Mike, let’s get that bastard doctor who gave you shock treatment!”
Report comment
Error. Comment should start with “your,” not “our.”
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our story is truly inspiring! After my own experiences in a state hospital when I was 16 (see “Committed at 16: Memories of a State Hospital” on this site) I was also truly lost. After ECT I had lost a good part of my academic skills. When I returned to school, I could not do what I could before. It seemed my family was always coming down on me for every little thing with threats of returning me to the state hospital. And my head was so full of frighting thought about the state hospital and shock treatments, I could hardly think. On top of that my father wouldn’t take me to anywhere for help, and our family doctor was constantly spouting genetics theories of mental illness to me. Hewanted me to accept I was had a “genetic illness” and was more-or-less doomed for life. On top of everything, he refused to prescribe psychiatric medicine for me. It was years before I was able to recover a semblance of my former self.
Report comment
I’m sorry you had such a hard time with your illness. Shock treatment is not the “miracle” some would make it out to be. Just the opposite. Everybody’s experience is different. Mine was at 16 when I was committed to a state hospital. I was given the muscle relaxant without a sedative, and experienced excruciating pain. Afterwards, I had daily painful, intrusive memories which made it hard for me to concentrate on anything else for years, long-lasting depression, a loss of the capacity to learn, and a decline in school grades. The FDA warns that: āā¦The long-term safety and effectiveness of ECT treatment has not been demonstrated.ā (Code of Federal Regulation, Electroconvulsive Therapy Device, 21 CFR 882.5940). If you are interested, you can read more about my horrible experiences in MAD:
“The Shady World of Shock Treatment,” and “Committed at 16: Memories of a State Hospital.”
Report comment
Lori, You are not alone in being tragically left behind by Psychiatry. My parents didn’t get me the help I needed from a mental health professional for the three years I showed symptoms before I had to be hospitalized when I was 16. The care I received in the hospital was horrendous and left me with problems for the rest of my life. If you’re interested, I’ve written about my own experiences. (See “Memories of a State Hospital” in MAD).
Report comment
I was a surprised to see that the NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, has devised a new plan for the involuntary commitment of homeless persons who cannot take care of themselves due to mental illness. In recent time there has been a great effort in this country to not institutionalize vast numbers of people in run down public facilities against their will as in the past. Starting in the 1960ās, after the introduction of new psychiatric medications and Social Security Disability (SSI), a vast exodus from the state hospitals was begun. With little or no planning, those who had no other resources were placed in for-profit private foster homes or residential hotels where they received little or none of the care they needed. Increasing, a large number who didnāt fit there or anywhere else were left to fend for themselves on the streets. Belatedly, public officials have been forced to cope with the problems of this vast number of displaced individuals. Unfortunately, it is doubtful that Mayor Adams or other public officials are prepared to deal with the magnitude or complexity of the problem. What is needed is not a return to the overcrowded state hospital and their abuse and neglect of the mentally ill of the past, but an upgraded hospital system and discharge to facilities offering ample mental health and other services. Otherwise, after a brief stint in the hospital to get symptoms under control, it is a return to the streets and a recurrence of problems. Also of concern is Mayor Adamās idea of involuntary commitment following a brief evaluation by police officers. There have been too many complaints about commitments based on flimsy grounds and the outright dishonesty to hospitals where they are held against their will for extended periods of time.
Report comment
Dear Kathleen, After my own experience with ECT (āCommitted at 16: State Hospital Memories,ā MIA, Jan.23, 2000), I was very interested in what you had to say. You mentioned that you were initially apprehensive about losing previous memories. The fact is a goodly number of people do have serious post-ECT memory difficulties. Some are so seriously damaged that they cannot ever resume their former education or employment. Unfortunately, there has never been a valid determination of what proportion of ECT patients have serious long-term memory difficulties. If that were known, prospective ECT patients would know the risk theyāre taking. But the way things are it is hard to know even thatāsomething like playing the crap tables at Las Vegas or even Russian Roulette. For the short-term relief ECT provides, it just doesnāt seem worth it. You said that even now, four years later, your capacity for rote learning and memory are ācompletely shot.ā You ask why isnāt the Psychiatric care system more responsible? You, like so many of the rest of us who have suffered, deserve answers, not more misinformation and false promises. Here is the bottom line: The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) warns that āā¦When used as intendedā¦ [an ECT device]ā¦ provides short-term relief of symptoms. The long-term safety and effectiveness of ECT treatment has not been demonstrated.ā (21 CFR 882.5940 (b)(1)(ix)(G)).
Report comment
Marni, The posted article has fewer references than the original to make it more readable. The original had over 50 references to books, articles, and federal statutes. I’d be glad to send it to you If you have a Facebook page, send me a friend request, and I’ll send the original to you. My Facebook name is Michael E. Sturman. Otherwise, Facebook will not allow us to connect. Or an e-mail would do. I think when you see the original article, you’ll see there is good reason to question the safety and effectiveness of ECT for many people. I am sure you are aware there are always some people who benefit from the placebo effect of a medical procedure or drug when others report no effect or harm. That’s why I argue it’s important to find out what’s going on with MRI scan and Neuropsychological testing. I think it is wrong to go on with ECT “as usual” without knowing more.
Report comment
Come trip with me to old Commitment State
Where they rot your brain with electroshock,
Until half of what you learned was forgot.
And tranquilizers keep you half dead, half awake.
Thereās no good treatment hereādonāt make a mistake!
Nor terrorism something you just hear about in the news.
They kick your ass and choke you until youāre black-n- blue.
And then they lie about what they do.
No sweet memories of Old Commitment State!
Just nightmares to haunt you asleep or awake!
Report comment
I did, and they sent me an e-mail the very next day saying they weren’t going to publish it, and I was free to take it elsewhere, which I did.
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You might consider the DK Law Group. Their main office is in California but they have offices nationwide. They were the ones who represented the plaintiffs successful in a recent law suit against the manufacturers of electroshock machines for failure to warn of the risks in using their equipment. Also, you can contact your local lawyer’s referral service or bar association to find someone to represent you.
Report comment
Laura, I know what it’s like to be caught in a mental health system that grossly fails to provide for your needs. If you like, you can read my personal account of what the state hospital was like for me at 16 under my name on this website. Don’t give up! Perhaps now your Psychiatrist and social worker will find another way for you after they see your article and all the support you’ve received. Why don’t you send it to them? Also, a lawyer who does mental health work could help. Michael E. Sturman, M.A.
Report comment
What protections against revealing their mental health history do those with such histories have? I can imagine what would happen if an employer or prospective employer learned that you had a history of schizophrenia. Does the Americans with Disabilities Act or other laws offer protection? If so, where can I find the relevant sections of the statutes?
Report comment