Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a lifesaving treatment for people with severe mental health disorders that have not responded to other treatments. Yet, it remains one of the most controversial treatments in psychiatry. This book is a collection of stories written by people who have received ECT, or by their friends and family. They provide open and detailed accounts of their experiences of severe mental illness and their journeys through ECT. The outcomes range from quick recoveries to relapses and repeated courses of therapy. These stories will highlight the potential life-changing benefits this treatment can have and dispel some of the myths and misinformation that surround this treatment. This book will be a useful resource for anyone looking for further information about ECT, and for those who want to learn about the experiences of people who have severe depression, including psychosis.

‘An extraordinary book. Authentic, intimate and often uplifting first-person accounts of the experience of severe mental illness and the therapeutic power of ECT. The stories pull no punches and should be read by everyone who wants to understand why we still need ECT and what it means to have the treatment.’

Robert Howard - University College London

‘Waves of Hope: Personal Stories of ECT debunks the misunderstanding and stigma surrounding ECT, and, best of all, does it in patients’ own words. Their stories are heartbreaking, but also heartening, as they chronicle paths to recovery, ultimately facilitated by ECT. Kudos to these patients and their families for the courage to speak out, and to Professor Kirov for bringing them together. This well-curated collection of highly personal vignettes is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn the reality about a venerable treatment that remains a vital, often life-saving, part of modern psychiatric medicine. This book definitively answers the question, ‘Do they still do that?’ with a resounding ‘Yes, we still do that, and these stories explain why.’’

Charles H. Kellner - MD, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina

‘In this invaluable book, George Kirov does a remarkable job of bridging the gap between clinical knowledge and real-world lived experience. Each chapter, written by an expert with personal experience, offers the reader unique insights beyond the psychiatrist's perspective. It provides an intimate look at what patients go through and how distressing side effects fuel anxiety. The goal, according to Kirov, is ‘to lift the mystery’. But this book does much more – it tackles the stigma surrounding ECT by allowing readers to meet people with personal experience and hear their stories, each one worth telling and sharing.’

Pascal Sienaert - Professor of Psychiatry and Lead Psychiatrist for the Academic Centre for ECT and Neuromodulation, University Psychiatric Centre KU Leuven in Belgium; Chair of the European Forum for ECT; Associate Editor of the Journal of ECT