Nation's Top ECT Researcher Finally Admits - ECT Causes Permanent Amnesia

[Guest guest]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59631

Electroconvulsive Therapy Causes Permanent Amnesia And Cognitive Deficits,

Prominent Researcher Admits

22 Dec 2006   

In a stunning reversal, an article in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology in

January 2007 by prominent researcher Harold Sackeim of Columbia University

reveals that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) causes permanent amnesia and

permanent deficits in cognitive abilities, which affect individuals' ability

to function.

" This study provides the first evidence in a large, prospective sample that

adverse cognitive effects can persist for an extended period, and that they

characterize routine treatment with ECT in community settings, " the study

notes.

For the past 25 years, ECT patients were told by Sackeim, the nation's top

ECT researcher, that the controversial treatment doesn't cause permanent

amnesia and, in fact, improves memory and increases intelligence.

Psychologist Sackeim also taught a generation of ECT practitioners that

permanent amnesia from ECT is so rare that it could not be studied. He

asserted that most people who said the treatment erased years of memory were

mentally ill and thus not credible.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that more than 3

million people have received ECT over the past generation. " Those patients

who reported permanent adverse effects on cognition have now had their

experiences validated, " said Andre, head of the Committee for Truth in

Psychiatry, a national organization of ECT recipients.

Since the mid-1980s, Sackeim

worked as a consultant to the ECT device manufacturer Mecta Corp. He never

revealed his financial interest in ECT to NIMH, as required by federal law,

and, until 2002, did not reveal it to New York officials as required by

state law. Neuropsychopharmacology has endured negative publicity over its

failure to disclose financial conflicts of journal authors, resulting in the

editor's resignation and a promise to disclose such conflicts in the future;

yet there is no disclosure of Sackeim's long-term relationship with Mecta,

nor did Sackeim disclose his financial conflict when his NIMH grant was

renewed to 2009 at approximately $500,000 per year.

The six-month study followed about 250 patients in New York City hospitals,

an

unusually large number; most ECT studies are based on 20 to 30 patients.

Sackeim's previously published studies were short term, making it impossible

to assess long-term effects. " However, in other contexts over the years --

court depositions, communications with mental health officials, and grant

protocols -- Sackeim has claimed to follow up patients for as long as five

years. This raises serious questions as to how long he has actually known of

the existence and prevalence of permanent amnesia and why it wasn't revealed

until now, " Andre said.

Besides finding that ECT routinely causes substantial and permanent amnesia,

the study contradicts Sackeim's oft-published statements that ECT increases

intelligence and that patients who report permanent adverse effects are

mentally ill.

" The study is a stunning self-repudiation of a

25-year career, " Andre said.

Committee for Truth in Psychiatry

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v32/n1/pdf/1301180a.pdf

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59631

Cassandra Dawn Casey

If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.

http://www.scientific-misconduct.blogspot.com

Utah Director, ICFDA

DRUGAWARENESS

http://www.drugawareness.org

A.S.P.I.R.E.

http://www.aspire.us

Achieving acceptable drug safety evaluation standards is perfectly feasible,

it's a matter of political will to put the public health first, commercial

considerations second.

~Vera Sharav, AHRP

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which

has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such

material is made available for educational purposes, to advance

understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and

social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair

use'

of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section

107 of the US Copyright Law. This material is distributed without profit.

[Guest guest]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59631

Electroconvulsive Therapy Causes Permanent Amnesia And Cognitive Deficits,

Prominent Researcher Admits

22 Dec 2006   

In a stunning reversal, an article in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology in

January 2007 by prominent researcher Harold Sackeim of Columbia University

reveals that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) causes permanent amnesia and

permanent deficits in cognitive abilities, which affect individuals' ability

to function.

" This study provides the first evidence in a large, prospective sample that

adverse cognitive effects can persist for an extended period, and that they

characterize routine treatment with ECT in community settings, " the study

notes.

For the past 25 years, ECT patients were told by Sackeim, the nation's top

ECT researcher, that the controversial treatment doesn't cause permanent

amnesia and, in fact, improves memory and increases intelligence.

Psychologist Sackeim also taught a generation of ECT practitioners that

permanent amnesia from ECT is so rare that it could not be studied. He

asserted that most people who said the treatment erased years of memory were

mentally ill and thus not credible.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that more than 3

million people have received ECT over the past generation. " Those patients

who reported permanent adverse effects on cognition have now had their

experiences validated, " said Andre, head of the Committee for Truth in

Psychiatry, a national organization of ECT recipients.

Since the mid-1980s, Sackeim

worked as a consultant to the ECT device manufacturer Mecta Corp. He never

revealed his financial interest in ECT to NIMH, as required by federal law,

and, until 2002, did not reveal it to New York officials as required by

state law. Neuropsychopharmacology has endured negative publicity over its

failure to disclose financial conflicts of journal authors, resulting in the

editor's resignation and a promise to disclose such conflicts in the future;

yet there is no disclosure of Sackeim's long-term relationship with Mecta,

nor did Sackeim disclose his financial conflict when his NIMH grant was

renewed to 2009 at approximately $500,000 per year.

The six-month study followed about 250 patients in New York City hospitals,

an

unusually large number; most ECT studies are based on 20 to 30 patients.

Sackeim's previously published studies were short term, making it impossible

to assess long-term effects. " However, in other contexts over the years --

court depositions, communications with mental health officials, and grant

protocols -- Sackeim has claimed to follow up patients for as long as five

years. This raises serious questions as to how long he has actually known of

the existence and prevalence of permanent amnesia and why it wasn't revealed

until now, " Andre said.

Besides finding that ECT routinely causes substantial and permanent amnesia,

the study contradicts Sackeim's oft-published statements that ECT increases

intelligence and that patients who report permanent adverse effects are

mentally ill.

" The study is a stunning self-repudiation of a

25-year career, " Andre said.

Committee for Truth in Psychiatry

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v32/n1/pdf/1301180a.pdf

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59631

Cassandra Dawn Casey

If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.

http://www.scientific-misconduct.blogspot.com

Utah Director, ICFDA

DRUGAWARENESS

http://www.drugawareness.org

A.S.P.I.R.E.

http://www.aspire.us

Achieving acceptable drug safety evaluation standards is perfectly feasible,

it's a matter of political will to put the public health first, commercial

considerations second.

~Vera Sharav, AHRP

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which

has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such

material is made available for educational purposes, to advance

understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and

social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair

use'

of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section

107 of the US Copyright Law. This material is distributed without profit.

[Guest guest]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59631

Electroconvulsive Therapy Causes Permanent Amnesia And Cognitive Deficits,

Prominent Researcher Admits

22 Dec 2006   

In a stunning reversal, an article in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology in

January 2007 by prominent researcher Harold Sackeim of Columbia University

reveals that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) causes permanent amnesia and

permanent deficits in cognitive abilities, which affect individuals' ability

to function.

" This study provides the first evidence in a large, prospective sample that

adverse cognitive effects can persist for an extended period, and that they

characterize routine treatment with ECT in community settings, " the study

notes.

For the past 25 years, ECT patients were told by Sackeim, the nation's top

ECT researcher, that the controversial treatment doesn't cause permanent

amnesia and, in fact, improves memory and increases intelligence.

Psychologist Sackeim also taught a generation of ECT practitioners that

permanent amnesia from ECT is so rare that it could not be studied. He

asserted that most people who said the treatment erased years of memory were

mentally ill and thus not credible.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that more than 3

million people have received ECT over the past generation. " Those patients

who reported permanent adverse effects on cognition have now had their

experiences validated, " said Andre, head of the Committee for Truth in

Psychiatry, a national organization of ECT recipients.

Since the mid-1980s, Sackeim

worked as a consultant to the ECT device manufacturer Mecta Corp. He never

revealed his financial interest in ECT to NIMH, as required by federal law,

and, until 2002, did not reveal it to New York officials as required by

state law. Neuropsychopharmacology has endured negative publicity over its

failure to disclose financial conflicts of journal authors, resulting in the

editor's resignation and a promise to disclose such conflicts in the future;

yet there is no disclosure of Sackeim's long-term relationship with Mecta,

nor did Sackeim disclose his financial conflict when his NIMH grant was

renewed to 2009 at approximately $500,000 per year.

The six-month study followed about 250 patients in New York City hospitals,

an

unusually large number; most ECT studies are based on 20 to 30 patients.

Sackeim's previously published studies were short term, making it impossible

to assess long-term effects. " However, in other contexts over the years --

court depositions, communications with mental health officials, and grant

protocols -- Sackeim has claimed to follow up patients for as long as five

years. This raises serious questions as to how long he has actually known of

the existence and prevalence of permanent amnesia and why it wasn't revealed

until now, " Andre said.

Besides finding that ECT routinely causes substantial and permanent amnesia,

the study contradicts Sackeim's oft-published statements that ECT increases

intelligence and that patients who report permanent adverse effects are

mentally ill.

" The study is a stunning self-repudiation of a

25-year career, " Andre said.

Committee for Truth in Psychiatry

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v32/n1/pdf/1301180a.pdf

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59631

Cassandra Dawn Casey

If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.

http://www.scientific-misconduct.blogspot.com

Utah Director, ICFDA

DRUGAWARENESS

http://www.drugawareness.org

A.S.P.I.R.E.

http://www.aspire.us

Achieving acceptable drug safety evaluation standards is perfectly feasible,

it's a matter of political will to put the public health first, commercial

considerations second.

~Vera Sharav, AHRP

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which

has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such

material is made available for educational purposes, to advance

understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and

social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair

use'

of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section

107 of the US Copyright Law. This material is distributed without profit.

[Guest guest]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59631

Electroconvulsive Therapy Causes Permanent Amnesia And Cognitive Deficits,

Prominent Researcher Admits

22 Dec 2006   

In a stunning reversal, an article in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology in

January 2007 by prominent researcher Harold Sackeim of Columbia University

reveals that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) causes permanent amnesia and

permanent deficits in cognitive abilities, which affect individuals' ability

to function.

" This study provides the first evidence in a large, prospective sample that

adverse cognitive effects can persist for an extended period, and that they

characterize routine treatment with ECT in community settings, " the study

notes.

For the past 25 years, ECT patients were told by Sackeim, the nation's top

ECT researcher, that the controversial treatment doesn't cause permanent

amnesia and, in fact, improves memory and increases intelligence.

Psychologist Sackeim also taught a generation of ECT practitioners that

permanent amnesia from ECT is so rare that it could not be studied. He

asserted that most people who said the treatment erased years of memory were

mentally ill and thus not credible.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that more than 3

million people have received ECT over the past generation. " Those patients

who reported permanent adverse effects on cognition have now had their

experiences validated, " said Andre, head of the Committee for Truth in

Psychiatry, a national organization of ECT recipients.

Since the mid-1980s, Sackeim

worked as a consultant to the ECT device manufacturer Mecta Corp. He never

revealed his financial interest in ECT to NIMH, as required by federal law,

and, until 2002, did not reveal it to New York officials as required by

state law. Neuropsychopharmacology has endured negative publicity over its

failure to disclose financial conflicts of journal authors, resulting in the

editor's resignation and a promise to disclose such conflicts in the future;

yet there is no disclosure of Sackeim's long-term relationship with Mecta,

nor did Sackeim disclose his financial conflict when his NIMH grant was

renewed to 2009 at approximately $500,000 per year.

The six-month study followed about 250 patients in New York City hospitals,

an

unusually large number; most ECT studies are based on 20 to 30 patients.

Sackeim's previously published studies were short term, making it impossible

to assess long-term effects. " However, in other contexts over the years --

court depositions, communications with mental health officials, and grant

protocols -- Sackeim has claimed to follow up patients for as long as five

years. This raises serious questions as to how long he has actually known of

the existence and prevalence of permanent amnesia and why it wasn't revealed

until now, " Andre said.

Besides finding that ECT routinely causes substantial and permanent amnesia,

the study contradicts Sackeim's oft-published statements that ECT increases

intelligence and that patients who report permanent adverse effects are

mentally ill.

" The study is a stunning self-repudiation of a

25-year career, " Andre said.

Committee for Truth in Psychiatry

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v32/n1/pdf/1301180a.pdf

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59631

Cassandra Dawn Casey

If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.

http://www.scientific-misconduct.blogspot.com

Utah Director, ICFDA

DRUGAWARENESS

http://www.drugawareness.org

A.S.P.I.R.E.

http://www.aspire.us

Achieving acceptable drug safety evaluation standards is perfectly feasible,

it's a matter of political will to put the public health first, commercial

considerations second.

~Vera Sharav, AHRP

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which

has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such

material is made available for educational purposes, to advance

understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and

social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair

use'

of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section

107 of the US Copyright Law. This material is distributed without profit.