Gene Decker, a college administrator, credits shock with saving his life.

He suffered depressions every winter. They became so devastating that he couldn't get out of bed. He'd spend days staring at his bedroom wall, rarely eating or speaking.

Neither anti-depressant drugs nor the love of his supportive family seemed to help. Twelve years ago, Decker received six shocks to the right side of the head.

"It was like (the doctor) turned a switch,'' says Decker. "I went in depressed and came out normal.''

The director of health-care administration at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, has taken anti-depressant drugs ever since and hasn't suffered a major depression again.

But he's had to live with the side effects.

He believes shock slowed his ability to recall things. When students come to his office, he often can't remember their names, even though he knows them well.

"Right now,'' he says, "I want to tell you the name of the anti-depressant drug that I took every day for 10 or 12 years but I can't remember it. It's frustrating.''

But the trade-off was worth it, Decker says. "I'd rather risk ECT than do nothing.''

By USA TODAY

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