Particle.news

Paris Jackson Says Nine ECT Sessions Eased Her Depression but Caused Memory Loss

Her On Purpose podcast interview describes how modern ECT is administered and notes she will not pursue ongoing maintenance treatment.

Overview

  • Paris Jackson publicly said she received nine electroconvulsive therapy sessions over three weeks after a severe, treatment‑resistant depressive crisis in which she came close to attempting suicide.
  • She described the modern procedure as done under general anesthesia with medical precautions such as replacing metal piercings, using a mouth guard, and staff monitoring during the brief induced seizure.
  • Jackson reported measurable improvement in her depression but said the course produced acute head pain after sessions and notable memory loss that affected daily life and relationships.
  • She refused the idea of monthly maintenance ECT for life, explaining the side effects made indefinite treatments unacceptable even though the initial course helped her symptoms.
  • Her account follows many prior interventions, including medications, DBT, EMDR, TMS, lidocaine injections and stays at multiple mental‑health facilities, and it contributes to public discussion about modern ECT as a last‑line, clinically supervised option.