Electroconvulsive therapy for treating patients with agitation and related behavioral disorders due to dementia: a systematic review (original) (raw)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is being reconsidered as a treatment option for agitation and behavioral disorders in dementia patients, given the limited efficacy of conventional pharmacological approaches. In a systematic review of 19 studies involving 156 patients (primarily women aged 51-98), it was found that while ECT may lead to significant improvements in agitation, the absence of high-level evidence, particularly randomized controlled trials, highlights a key methodological limitation. Though side effects like postictal delirium and cardiovascular issues were reported, they were typically transient, suggesting that ECT can be a safe and effective intervention despite the noted methodological weaknesses.