Electroconvulsive Therapy: Boon or Bane (original) (raw)

Treating Depression with ECT: An Objective Review

Open Journal of Depression, 2012

The current study examined the efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) as a treatment method for unipolar and bipolar depression using an objective measure through a retrospective chart review. First, this article discusses the history of ECT as well as issues in psychiatric diagnoses. Patients' progress in this study was measured by the hospital's psychiatrists as well as through the self-report measure, Clinically Useful Depression Scale (CUDOS). The sample consisted of 22 female and 8 male depressed inpatients and outpatients. A 2 × 2 mixed ANOVA revealed a significant interaction, showing improvement from pre-treatment to post-treatment in both genders. In post-treatment, female patients showed significantly more improvement than male patients. This study suggests that ECT results in depression reduction, especially in female patients. In addition, the CUDOS has shown to be a simple and effective self-report measure in assessing progress of depression including complex treatments, such as ECT. Recommendations for future ECT studies include: controlling for comorbidity and medication by obtaining a larger sample size to categorize patients according to medication type and dosage.

The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for depression (Atena Editora)

The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for depression (Atena Editora), 2024

Objective: Evaluate how Electroconvulsive Therapy impacts treatment efficacy and quality of life in patients with resistant depression, as well as its safety and adverse effects. Methods: Bibliographic review using the PVO strategy, carried out in the PubMed - MEDLINE database, using the terms “Electroconvulsive Therapy”, “ECT” and “Depression”. Initially covering 1,454 articles, articles were selected between 2019-2024, in English and that addressed the research theme, thus selecting 19 articles. Review: Despite being a treatment surrounded by stigma and doubts from both professionals and patients, the present study was essential to elucidate the real benefits and care linked to ECT. It was found that the treatment is very cost-efficient for controlling patients with severe and refractory depressive episodes, as well as suicidal ideation, even more efficient when compared to drug therapy and psychotherapy. Furthermore, this proposal involves possible adverse effects related to structural changes in the Central Nervous System, as well as symptoms of nausea, amnesia and headache. Final considerations: Despite being associated with adverse effects, mainly temporary changes in the Central Nervous System, the benefits in quality of life justify its use. It is vital that healthcare professionals stay informed and clearly communicate the risks and benefits of ECT while continuing to explore and develop new approaches to treating complex and refractory psychiatric conditions.

Use of ECT with treatment-resistant depressed patients at the National Institute of Mental Health

The American journal of psychiatry, 1981

The authors review the use of ECT with nine seriously depressed patients at the National Institute of Mental Health over the past 8 years. Despite the patients' poor prior response to a variety of pharmacological treatments, only one patient failed to show a complete response to ECT. With most patients, improvement was quite rapid and dramatic, and all of the ECT responders were free of depression for at least 1 year after treatment. These results are consistent with previous studies; they deserve reemphasis now in light of recent controversies over ECT, including legislative and judicial attempts to restrict its use.

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression

New England Journal of Medicine, 2007

An 82-year-old widowed woman with a history of recurrent unipolar major depression is referred to the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) service of an academic medical center. During her illness, she has had four episodes of major depression consisting of periods of depressed mood, crying spells, loss of interest in usual activities, insomnia, loss of appetite and weight, difficulty with concentration, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of suicide. During the current episode, which has lasted for 6 months, she has had typical symptoms of melancholic depression, as well as psychotic symptoms (e.g., a somatic delusion that she has terminal cancer), with suicidal ideation and a plan for taking a drug overdose. Previous treatment during this episode has included citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and the combination of olanzepine (Zyprexa) and duloxetine, but the patient did not have a response to any of these agents. She could not tolerate the anticholinergic side effects of tricyclic antidepressants. Her psychiatrist seeks specialty consultation regarding the appropriateness and safety of ECT for this patient.

Evidence-Based Electroconvulsive Therapy for Major Depression Disorder

Scientia Psychiatrica, 2020

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a treatment that steals medical attention and the public. Memory disturbance after ECT is a special consideration for the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of the United States to classify ECT, whether it belongs to class III (high risk). Psychiatrists or anesthesiologists (who are experienced with ECT) tend to change this classification, while neurologists, psychologists, biostatistics experts, and public representatives agree to maintain ECT status in class III. Contrary to unexpected effects, ECT can induce a transition in severe melancholic patients and suicide to normal functioning humans, after other treatments have failed. With the aim of balancing effectiveness and safety, this paper provides modern evidence of the benefits and risks of ECT.

‘Side effects’ of ECT are mainly depressive phenomena and are independent of age

Journal of Affective Disorders, 2001

Background: The aetiology of reported side effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is unclear. We examined the interaction of depression and age on adverse neuropsychological and putative side effects of ECT. Method: Inpatients (N 5 81; median age 70 years) with major depression were assessed prospectively pre-ECT, immediately post-ECT and 1-3 years later. Patients were administered the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) and neuropsychological tests from the Wechsler Memory Scale. Side effects and total burden scores were rated pre-and post-treatment. Results: HRSD and GAF scores improved with treatment after ECT, but the prevalence and total burden of side effects were unchanged. Side effect burden was related to depression level before and after ECT. Improvement in depression correlated with reduction in side effect burden. There was a significant decline in side effect burden after controlling for change in depression. Patients' scores on neuropsychological measures did not appear to change after ECT or between pre-ECT and follow-up. Re-analysis, allowing for age, chronicity of depression, medication use and development of dementia, did not alter the findings. Limitations: lack of a control group, lack of information on ECT technique, incomplete data sets and limited neuropsychological testing. Conclusions: ECT, an effective treatment for depression, does not cause significant side effects or neuropsychological impairment, which are more likely to be depressive phenomena. ECT appears to be safe for old ($65 years) and very old ($75 years) patients, who do not appear to be more susceptible to adverse effects.