Q. Is ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) effective way of treating Bipolar disorder? What are the side effects ? Would you recommend ECT as treatment? My wife has been in the hospital for bipolar and is not responding to medications. The Doctor is recommending ETC.

  A. ECT is very good for mania, and still probably the best treatment available for depression. The major complaints involve memory loss in some patients. Otherwise, the side effects are those from the anesthetic agents used during ECT. I would go over these points with your doctor.