Electroconvulsive therapy is often misunderstood—but it’s a safe, highly effective treatment for severe depression. Learn how ECT works, who it can help, and how experts support patients every step of the way. Electroconvulsive therapy is often misunderstood—but it’s a safe, highly effective treatment for severe depression.

Understanding the Context

Learn how ECT works, who it can help, and how experts support patients every step of ... Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients suffering from depression. This treatment often produces better results than in younger patients and could reduce the ... An international survey of ECT recipients found that over half felt they weren't given adequate information about the treatment beforehand.

Key Insights

Many patients remember being told that ECT was safe and that ... Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is sometimes called shock therapy. This may sound painful, but ECT doesn't hurt. It's often the safest and best treatment for severe depression. It can treat other mental disorders as well.

Final Thoughts

Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is one of the safest and most effective ways to treat mood disorders like severe depression and bipolar disorder when other therapies haven’t helped. However, the fear of losing memories or experiencing confusion often leads patients to steer clear of ECT, which uses an electric current to induce seizure activity in the brain. After ECT, 30% to 60% ... News Medical: Electroconvulsive therapy found to be highly effective in treating elderly patients with depression Electroconvulsive therapy found to be highly effective in treating elderly patients with depression Medscape: ECT More Effective for Depression in Older Adults Than in Younger Patients ECT More Effective for Depression in Older Adults Than in Younger Patients