Dianetics vs ECT: Comparing Dianetics with Electroconvulsive Therapy

What is ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), commonly known as electroshock treatment or shock treatment, is a psychiatric procedure introduced in the 1930s that involves passing electrical current through the human brain to induce a grand mal seizure. According to Life Healthcare South Africa, ECT is administered under general anaesthesia and used to treat severe manic or depressive episodes associated with Bipolar Mood Disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, and cases with high suicide risk.

The procedure involves a trained clinician delivering what Life Healthcare describes as a "small, yet specific dose of electrical stimulation" to the brain while the patient is under anaesthesia. An anaesthetist monitors breathing, temperature, heart function, and blood pressure, while brain activity is tracked using an electroencephalogram (EEG). A typical course consists of 6 to 12 sessions administered over 3 to 4 weeks.

The Controversy: Two Very Different Perspectives

The debate over ECT's safety and effectiveness reveals a stark divide between psychiatric institutions and mental health advocacy organizations. Understanding both perspectives is crucial for making informed decisions about mental health treatment.

The Psychiatric Institution View

Life Healthcare and similar psychiatric facilities promote ECT as a "clinically proven and effective treatment" that is "minimally invasive and pain free." They claim success rates of up to 75%, with progressive improvement visible within the first week of treatment and complete remission achievable within 3 to 4 weeks. According to this view, side effects are minimal and include only headaches, brief confusion, and temporary short-term memory loss that resolves within days or weeks.

The CCHR and WHO Position

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a mental health watchdog organization, presents dramatically different evidence. CCHR cites the World Health Organization's October 2021 Guidance on mental health and human rights legislation, which states that ECT is an "irreversible intervention" that can cause "memory loss and brain damage."

Perhaps most significantly, on October 19, 2018, Somatics LLC, the manufacturer of the Thymatron ECT device used in Australia and other countries, issued a warning of "permanent brain damage" in its new risk disclosures following a lawsuit settlement. This admission from the device manufacturer itself contradicts psychiatric institutions' claims of safety.

The Science: What Research Actually Shows

A comprehensive 2017 review published in Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry examined more than 90 ECT studies conducted since 2009. The review's findings were damning: ECT studies remain "methodologically flawed," and "given the well-documented high risk of persistent memory dysfunction, the cost-benefit analysis for ECT remains so poor that its use cannot be scientifically, or ethically, justified."

The review also found no evidence that ECT is more effective than placebo for depression or suicide prevention. This directly contradicts psychiatric institutions' claims of 75% success rates and fast, effective treatment.

The Memory Loss Problem

Even Harold A. Sackeim, a major proponent of ECT, acknowledged the severity of memory loss when he stated: "As a field, we have more readily acknowledged the possibility of death due to ECT than the possibility of profound memory loss, despite the fact that adverse effects on cognition are by far ECT's most common side-effects."

CCHR documents cases of patients who, after ECT, could not remember how to perform simple tasks, could not recall the names of their children or spouses, and lost entire sections of their life memories from before the treatment. These are not temporary effects that resolve in "days or weeks" as psychiatric institutions claim, but permanent, life-altering damage.

The Electricity Factor: Understanding the Scale

According to CCHR, the human brain performs its functions with nearly eight times less power than a watch battery. One ECT session, however, targets the brain with 2,300 times more electricity than it needs to function. This massive electrical overload leads to severe trauma.

The tragic case of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway illustrates the devastating impact. After receiving ECT for depression, Hemingway wrote in what would become his suicide note: "What is the sense of ruining my head and erasing my memory, which is my capital, and putting me out of business? It was a brilliant cure but we lost the patient."

ECT in South Africa: Availability and Costs

Life Healthcare operates 9 dedicated psychiatric facilities across four provinces in South Africa that offer ECT. The treatment is listed as one of 27 Chronic Disease List (CDL) conditions that qualify for Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs), meaning medical aid schemes may cover the costs.

However, coverage varies by scheme, and patients should verify their specific benefits before proceeding. The typical course involves 6 to 12 sessions over 3 to 4 weeks, with some patients continuing maintenance ECT sessions indefinitely.

Dianetics: A Non-Invasive Alternative

Dianetics, developed by L. Ron Hubbard in 1950 in his book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health", offers a fundamentally different approach to mental health treatment. It is based on the principle that traumatic memories (called engrams) stored in the reactive mind are the root cause of mental distress, irrational behavior, and psychosomatic illness.

Through a process called auditing, a trained Dianetics practitioner helps individuals locate and remove these engrams, allowing them to achieve a state called "Clear" where they are free from the reactive mind's negative influence. The process involves no physical intervention, no electricity, no drugs, and no anaesthesia.

The Dianetics Approach

Dianetics auditing uses an E-meter (electropsychometer), a simple device that measures changes in electrical resistance, similar to a lie detector. The auditor asks questions while the person holds the E-meter's electrodes, and the meter's readings help identify areas of mental charge or distress.

Unlike ECT, which psychiatrists admit causes memory loss, Dianetics aims to improve memory and mental clarity by removing the traumatic memories that cloud thinking and cause emotional distress. The process is entirely voluntary, non-invasive, and claims to produce permanent results without ongoing maintenance sessions.

Comparing ECT and Dianetics

Making an Informed Decision

If you or a loved one is considering ECT, it's crucial to have complete information about the risks. Here are key questions to ask your healthcare provider:

1. Why does the WHO call ECT an "irreversible intervention" that can cause brain damage?
2. Why did the ECT device manufacturer issue warnings of "permanent brain damage" in 2018?
3. What is your response to the 2017 research review showing ECT is no better than placebo?
4. How do you reconcile claims of "temporary" memory loss with documented cases of permanent memory damage?
5. What non-invasive alternatives have been explored before recommending ECT?
6. Will I be informed of all risks, including permanent brain damage, before signing consent?

Remember, you have the right to refuse any treatment and to seek second opinions. The Mental Health Care Act (Act No. 17 of 2002) protects your rights as a mental health care user in South Africa, including the right to informed consent and the right to refuse treatment.

Exploring Dianetics as an Alternative

For South Africans seeking alternatives to ECT, Dianetics offers a non-invasive approach that addresses the root causes of mental distress without physical intervention. While Dianetics is not recognized by mainstream medical organizations and lacks peer-reviewed validation, it has a track record of anecdotal success stories spanning over 70 years.

The Dianetics book, available at Dianetics.org, provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and techniques. Many people start by reading the book and then decide whether to pursue auditing with a trained practitioner.

Unlike ECT, which requires ongoing maintenance sessions for many patients, Dianetics claims to produce permanent results. Once you achieve the state of Clear, the benefits are said to be lasting, with no need for continued treatment or medication.

Before considering ECT, explore the Dianetics alternative. Order the Dianetics book for R400 with free delivery across South Africa. Dianetics offers a non-invasive, drug-free approach to severe depression and mental health challenges without the risks associated with electroshock therapy.

Dianetics auditing services provide professional support for those dealing with severe mental health conditions.

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Written by

Tony Peacock

Humanitarian & Mental Health Research Advocate

Published: 2024 • Updated: November 2025

Tony is an Australian who moved to South Africa and made it his home. At 25, he overcame drug and alcohol addiction through Dianetics after trying alternative healing approaches. He served as Church staff in Australia for 12 years before moving to SA in 2022. As a humanitarian and philanthropist, he has made significant contributions to mental health infrastructure across Southern Africa. His mission: help the able become more able using technology that makes people causative.