A woman in Northern Ireland has spoken out about the long-term memory loss she suffered after receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression on the NHS. Lisa Morrison, 52, underwent six ECT sessions between 2009 and 2016, but claims the treatment only made things worse, leaving her unable to recall her wedding day or significant moments in her children's lives.
Ms Morrison, who has since been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress and a dissociative disorder, said she was taking multiple medications before being offered ECT. She told The Independent that she was self-harming and suicidal at the time, and that the treatment 'clearly wasn't working' but was continued nonetheless. It was only years later, after moving back in with her husband in 2018, that she realised the extent of her memory loss.
Her husband, Gary Morrison, described how after treatment she regressed to a 'childlike state' and had to be carefully nurtured. A study co-authored by Ms Morrison and clinical psychologists from the University of East London surveyed 286 relatives and friends of ECT recipients. It found that 42% thought the treatment had made the problem worse, while 34% believed it caused brain damage. Two-thirds said it diminished patients' quality of life.
Professor John Read, a co-author of the study, called for the 'immediate suspension' of ECT, arguing that no placebo-controlled trials have been conducted since 1985 and that the evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. He advocated for alternatives such as cognitive behavioural therapy. Multiple MPs also called for a ban or suspension of ECT in 2023, citing concerns over irreversible brain damage and its disproportionate use on women, who made up two-thirds of ECT patients in 2019.
Mental health charity Mind acknowledged that the evidence base for ECT 'has never been fit for purpose' and that the treatment can have a significant impact on family life. Despite the criticism, ECT is still offered on the NHS to patients with severe depression and catatonia.
