Antidepressant Drugs to Electroconvulsive Therapy: Kristina's Story.

A mother of three children experienced depression after each delivery. The worst bout occurred after the birth of her third child. Antidepressant drugs helped initially, but a change in dosage caused severe decompensating symptoms that resulted in feelings and thoughts that life is not worth living. Health care providers would not facilitate entry into an inpatient program for help. She was told that unless actively suicidal or homicidal, she could not be admitted to an inpatient unit. None of the prescribed antidepressant medications seemed to work and the physicians said there was nothing else they could do. Family and friends searched for help and found a psychiatrist who recommended electroconvulsive therapy. Kristina tells her story of experiencing depression and recovery. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Nursing, 54(8), 43-47.].