My spouse had a diagnosis of severe, intractable depression, noticeable in his early 60's, though possible starting earlier.
He would take to his bed, not want to eat, bathe, or take any kind of self-care.
This would go on for a several months, then eventually the depression apparently left, and he and we resumed a normal life - traveling, going to performances,- until the depression struck again.
He saw the head of a hospital psychiatry dept., who was unsuccessful in treating him with meds.
Eventually he was in three different hospitals' psychiatric sections, and with several psychiatrists. None were successful in alleviating the depression.
During one hospitalization, ECT was recommended and he had one session, the effect of which lasted no more than an hour.
We decided there would be no more ECT.
Eventually a neurologist diagnosed him with amyloidal angiopathy - bits of amyloid, a naturally occurring element in the human body, were clogging the ends of the arteries of his brain. No cure available, but the depression was evidently a secondary result of the ailment.
Again, I'm not a doctor, but I hope you've had a complete neurological workup to rule out a physical cause.
A long-time friend is now suffering from long-term depression. She had some relief from Risperdal, which took away her anxiety, but the depressive state recurred.
I could recount more, but will stop here. You are the only one who knows what you are going through, and it has to be your decision in the end. ECT will likely not harm you permanently, but I'd be surprised if it solves your problem long-term.
In my opinion, ECT is recommended when the psychiatrist has no other answers. We are still in the dark ages in the matter of psychiatric illness - so much to learn about the human brain.
Good luck in your quest for health.
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