Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Steve

When Steve first met his wife, over 30 years ago, she had already had ECT for depression. During various periods of depression, she had ECT when nothing else worked. Only recently has Steve described himself as a carer' and says that there are long periods in between episodes of depression where his wife is well.

  • Background

    Steve is a graphic designer, is married and has two children. He describes his wife’s ethnic background as White British.

  • Age at interview 60
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • John Z

    John was clinically depressed when he went into hospital 12 years ago, age 54. He had eight sessions of ECT that lifted him out of depression. He is diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder but now has less highs and lows and is on Lithium, which helps.

  • Background

    John is a professional.

  • Age at interview 63
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Enid

    Although Enid has always experienced periods of sadness, she only became very depressed after retirement. She was treated with ECT aged 73 and has found it helpful for a short period of time. Enid feels that depression should be considered an illness like any other.

  • Background

    Enid is a retired nurse and lives with her husband and two dogs. She has five children and describes her background as White British.

  • Age at interview 74
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Tracy

    Tracy experienced postnatal depression after having a miscarriage. She then had postnatal depression after her second daughter. Although she had ECT over 20 years ago she still experiences problems with her memory of that time. She wouldn't recommend ECT to anyone, and found it didn't help her depression.

  • Background

    Tracy is a charity coordinator and lives with her husband and two children in West Wales. She describes her ethnic background as White British.

  • Age at interview 49
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Kathleen

    Kathleen had a couple of episodes of depression when she was in the UK, which were treated with anti-depressants. She moved to Canada and then was admitted to hospital on several occasions. Kathleen had 2 courses of ECT as an inpatient (24 and 18 treatments) and one outpatient maintenance ECT treatment.

  • Background

    Kathleen currently lives with her parents in the UK, has two children and is separated from her husband. She describes her ethnic background as White British.

  • Age at interview 51
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Sheila

    Sheila was always against ECT because she used to help out in an ECT suite 20 years ago. However, when her husband experienced problems she found out more information about ECT and thought it may help him. Now she doesn't feel it has helped him very much but has seen it benefit others.

  • Background

    Sheila is a retired nursery nurse, has two children, and cares for her husband who suffers with anxiety and depression. She describes herself White British.

  • Age at interview 64
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Carys

    Carys daughter was given ECT when she was 19 sometime after she had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Carys felt that ECT did her no good but has seen it help other people. She is still struggling to get good support for her daughter 21 years later.

  • Background

    Carys works for a charity which represents carers, has three children, is married and describes herself White British.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Yvonne

    Yvonne had a difficult relationship with her mother and experienced abuse as a child. Aged 18 she was admitted to a hospital and eventually received ECT, which she did not want to have. In hindsight, although she found ECT frightening, she thinks it was the start of her recovery.

  • Background

    Yvonne works for an organisation that looks after children with additional needs. She is married and has a daughter. She describes her ethnic background as White Scottish.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Professor David Menon

    David Menon explains how decisions are taken in intensive care when treating patients in a coma in the early days after their injury. He reflects on problems of uncertainty about outcome at this stage.

  • Background

    David Menon is Professor and Head of the Department of Anaesthesia, Principal Investigator in the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, and Co-Chair of the Acute Brain Injury Programme at the University...

  • Sex/Gender Male