"Dr. Fink...writes about the use of electroshock in the treatment of depression, mania and schizophrenia, among other disorders. He cites numerous studies that he says demonstrate its effectiveness, its record in reducing the cost and length of inpatient treatment, and its ability to bring on antidepressant effects earlier 'and more robust than those of antidepressant drugs.' Dr. Fink's assessment is generally confirmed by the National Institute of Mental Health, which characterizes electroshock therapy as 'one of the most effective yet most stigmatized treatments for depression.'"—The New York Times
"In an America long besotted with psychotherapy, Max Fink carried an often lonely torch for the physical treatment of psychiatric disorders . . . . Electroshock is a slim volume, packing a punch of controversy."—Nature
"This book, clearly written, concise, and assertive, should help balance the picture, educating mental health professionals and the general public alike"—Forward Magazine
"Dr. Fink...writes about the use of electroshock in the treatment of depression, mania and schizophrenia, among other disorders. He cites numerous studies that he says demonstrate its effectiveness, its record in reducing the cost and length of inpatient treatment, and its ability to bring on antidepressant effects earlier 'and more robust than those of antidepressant drugs.' Dr. Fink's assessment is generally confirmed by the National Institute of Mental Health, which characterizes electroshock therapy as 'one of the most effective yet most stigmatized treatments for depression.'"—The New York Times
"In an America long besotted with psychotherapy, Max Fink carried an often lonely torch for the physical treatment of psychiatric disorders . . . . Electroshock is a slim volume, packing a punch of controversy."—Nature
"This book, clearly written, concise, and assertive, should help balance the picture, educating mental health professionals and the general public alike"—Forward Magazine
"Among many ECT books that cover similar content, this volume really stands out. It not only reviews evidence-based literature but also reflects the author's enormous amount of personal experience in taking care of severely ill and often treatment-resistant patients....This book is clearly written by a strong ECT advocate, but it presents a balanced view of concomitant treatment options and alternatives."—Ethiopian Reivew, part of DC's Health News Forum
3 Stars from Doody
In this book, Dr. Max Fink has made another important contribution to patients and physicians by filling the gap between standard patient-education materials on electroconvulsive treatment, most of which are dated as compared with information available at Web sites, and the specialized literature. Electroshock is written in language that will be easily understood by laypersons, and the supplemental notes and references will be very informative for primary care physicians who treat most of the depressed patients who should be referred for electroconvulsive treatment when standard medication is ineffective.
New England Journal of Medicine
This is an excellent book on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) written primarily for patients and their families. Authored by an internationally recognized clinician and researcher, it is a valuable contribution to the field. The purpose is to explain and teach to patients and their families the safety and effectiveness of ECT for specific psychiatric disorders, and to describe and critically review the adverse side affects (e.g., memory loss, the myths and controversies of ECT, the history of the treatment, and even technical aspects of treatment). The author accomplishes this difficult task in easy-to-understand language without medical jargon. The intended audience is patients and their families. It would also be useful for non-psychiatric physicians unfamiliar with ECT, social workers, psychologists, and anyone in healthcare who works with the seriously mentally ill patient. This book features 157 pages divided into 12 chapters, including four appendixes, annotations from the various chapters, and an up-to-date bibliography section. The chapters include topics such as a description of treatment, the patient's experience, risks and contraindications, technical aspects, and various neuropsychiatric disorders for which ECT is used. Appendix 1 lists diagnoses in which ECT is considered effective and Appendix 2 lists diagnoses in which ECT is considered ineffective. Appendix 3 has a sample consent form, and Appendix 4 lists various drugs with their brand and generic names and uses. There is also a helpful index at the end of the book. This is an outstanding and informative new book on ECT. Clinicians who prescribe ECT should recommend this book to their patients and their patients'families.
Probably a few doctors overprescribed ECT, but the vast majority shy away from it too much. This book, clearly written, concise, and assertive, should help balance the picture, educating mental health professionals and the general public alike.
Drawing on his 45 years of clinical and research experience, Fink (psychology and neurology, State U. of New York-Stony Brook) argues that electroshock therapy is now a safe, effective, painless, and sometimes life-saving treatment for emotional and mental disorders. He describes how it was discovered in 1934, was widely accepted for two decades, was largely replaced by psychotropic drugs in the 1950s, and is now seeing a revival because undesirable side effects have been removed. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Reviewer: Michael Schrift, DO (University of Washington School of Medicine)Description: It is most unfortunate that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains an underutilized and frequently neglected lifesaving treatment modality. ECT is the most effective treatment in psychiatry for melancholia and catatonic states, relieving these illnesses more quickly, safely, and fully than psychotropic medication or any other intervention. Over his career, Max Fink, MD, has been an unwavering, stalwart advocate for the effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy in general and its use over other treatments for serious mental Illness. This is Dr. Fink's latest addition to his extensive body of work and is representative of his gifts as a teacher and a clinician. It is a welcome addition to the psychiatric literature. Purpose: The purpose is to provide answers to common questions asked by patients, their families, and professionals such as: "Is this treatment still used? Is it safe? Is there a risk of brain damage? Will there be memory loss?" Dr. Fink hopes that "this book will help you understand and appreciate its (ECT) potential to heal the severely psychiatrically ill." Indeed, Dr. Fink has produced a very readable and informative guide.Audience: Those faced with the decision of whether to use ECT are the intended audience, which includes patients, their families, and clinicians — primary care physicians, nurses, and psychiatrists. It should be required reading for residents (trainees) in psychiatry residency training programs.Features: The book covers what ECT is, the treatment from the patient's perspective, the treatment technique, side effects, and the use of ECT in various disorders, including mood disorders, movement disorders, psychosis, pregnancy, and pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders, how it might work, the history of ECT, whether brain stimulation is an alternative to ECT, and the ethics of ECT. The best parts of the book are the patient vignettes that provide sketches of real life psychiatric situations. The useful appendixes include a list of diagnoses for which ECT is considered to be effective and ineffective, a sample informed consent document, and common medication names and uses. The bibliography contains relevant and important citations on recent research on ECT. Assessment: This new edition is an instructive and readable guide to ECT for clinicians, patients, and families faced with severe, unrelenting, and disabling psychopathology.
