A woman has described how electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression erased large portions of her memory, including her wedding day and significant moments in her children's lives. Lisa Morrison, 52, from Northern Ireland, received ECT six times on the NHS between 2009 and 2016, but claims the treatment caused more harm than good.
ECT, which involves sending electric currents through the brain to induce a seizure, is administered to about 2,500 people annually in the UK. It is intended to relieve severe symptoms of mental health conditions such as severe depression, according to the charity Mind. However, Ms Morrison says she was left with long-term memory loss.
“Sometimes I find it very distressing, especially when I think about my children and their early years,” she told The Independent. “It's something else that was taken from me, from people who were meant to help me.”
The mother of two, who was later diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and a dissociative disorder in 2020, was on antipsychotics, antidepressants, tranquillisers, and sleeping tablets before being offered ECT. “I was back in the emergency department, self-harming and suicidal, so it clearly wasn't working, but they kept giving it to me,” she added.
It was only years after the treatments that she realised the extent of her memory loss. “I was so unwell at the time, my life was a blur. I was separated from my husband for five years; he had to look after the kids because I was just so unwell. I moved back in with him and my kids in 2018, and I began to realise there were large portions of my life that I didn’t remember. He would talk about things I didn’t remember; our wedding day, significant events in my children's lives.”
Her husband, Gary Morrison, said: “After treatment, she seemed to regress to a childlike state; her extreme fragility and vulnerability meant she had to be carefully nurtured. I was desperate for something to help her.”
A study co-authored by Ms Morrison with clinical psychologists at the University of East London surveyed 286 relatives and friends of ECT recipients. More than a third reported brain damage, according to the findings published in the journal Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice. While 45 per cent of respondents noted improvement, 42 per cent thought the treatment made the problem worse. Two-thirds reported diminished quality of life, and 34 per cent believed it caused brain damage.
Ms Morrison said ignoring the “severely disabling effects” of ECT is a “human rights failing” and called for more research. John Read, professor of clinical psychology at the University of East London and co-author of the study, believes the treatment should be “immediately suspended”. He told The Independent that no placebo-controlled trials have been conducted since 1985 and that there is insufficient evidence to prove the treatment works.
Prof Read suggested alternatives such as cognitive behavioural therapy could help if offered early enough. “These findings highlight the necessity to be fully transparent about the efficacy and risks of ECT to both patients and relatives. Without this level of detail, the consent provided by patients and their loved ones may not meet the requirements of informed consent,” he said.
In 2023, multiple MPs called for a ban or suspension of ECT, demanding an urgent review over fears of irreversible brain damage and its disproportionate use on women, who made up about two-thirds of patients in 2019. Despite this, the treatment remains available on the NHS for severe depression and catatonia.
Mind’s information content manager Rosie Weatherley said: “The evidence base for ECT has never been fit for purpose and this latest study further substantiates the need for a rethink about whether and when this treatment is offered to patients.” She added that some patients are offered ECT before talking therapies, contrary to NICE guidelines.
A NICE spokesperson said: “ECT is recommended only in restricted circumstances when other treatments have not worked, or when a condition is potentially life-threatening. It is not a routine or first-line treatment. Before ECT is considered, clinicians must weigh up risks and benefits, including potential cognitive impairment. Where patients have capacity, consent must be given freely and without coercion, and they must be aware of their right to withdraw it at any time.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with anyone who has experienced harm or distressing side effects following ECT. Patient safety is paramount. NICE is responsible for issuing national guidance and advice, and clinical guidance is clear that patients must be fully informed of risks and side effects before any decision is made.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website. In the USA, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org. In other countries, visit www.befrienders.org.
