[Research] Is there really a link?

Have you had past ECT treatment only to now have a permanent condition of epilepsy

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Bridgette

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n April 2014 diagnosed with epilepsy. I have had extensive history/past of short-term and long-term ect treatment. I had been 100% ECT free for over 2 yrs, before being diagnosed with epilepsy. The Dr.'s could not link an absolute cause for my epilepsy? ECT was not 100% ruled out! I seriously think that there is more to this link of ect and epilepsy - despite the bulk of literature saying that there isn't a link. All it takes is a group of people experiencing the same. I'm on anti-seizure medications now for the rest of my life! I have no history of seizures/epilepsy in my family, no alcohol or drug abuse. Absolutely nothing linking this condition - other than ECT.
Please let me know what you think
 
Hello and welcome! I never had ect but know that you are not alone in having no family history, no other risks, and no identified cause. I don't know the cause of mine. Many of us don't. It is quite frustrating but also common.

That said if I had ect I would, right or wrong, suspect it as the cause. Just knowing that my brains electrical systems were involved would make me think that so I understand your poll.

As far as the research goes, I've been told that everyone has a seizure threshold so maybe all or most of those in the research had a typical threshold and yours was a little lower.

Regardless, you are in good company here and with a good doctor and good support things can and will get better.
 
Pubmed lists one study done on the subject:
...
RESULTS:

No report of spontaneous seizure was found in the study group of 619 patients. One patient who was excluded from the study group due to suspected neurosyphilis developed recurrent seizures 1 month after ECT. Two patients in the control group had single occasion convulsion with no further recurrence even with continuation of similar drugs.

CONCLUSIONS:

Electroconvulsive therapy has not been found to cause epilepsy. Patient's underlying organic condition may influence development of seizures.
Click to expand...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23291703
 
Like giveasmile, I have no family history of epilepsy, never had meningitis, encephalitis, no head injury and never had ECT. My seizures started out of the blue when I was 22 years of age. However, I did suffer from bouts of extreme depression and my neuropsychiatrist tried many anti-depressants, to no avail. I was even suicidal at a time and my psych said that maybe a seizure would help, suggesting that seizures (like ECT does) help alleviate depression. And yes, sometimes a TC did help me feel better emotionally afterwards.
 
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