Brain Stimulation Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for severely depressed patients, including elderly patients. Although antidepressant medication is first-line therapy, ECT should be considered in patients if they are suicidal, have not had a response to antidepressant pharmacotherapy, have a deteriorating physical condition, or have depression-related disability that threatens their ability to live independently. Available
data from open-label trials, typically involving persons who had not had a response to antidepressants, suggest remission rates of 70 to 90% with ECT, although remission rates in community samples may be lower (30 to 50%).Data from high-quality blinded, shamcontrolled studies using modern ECT techniques are lacking. In addition, randomized trials show high subsequent relapse rates (40 to 50% in the 6 months after treatment).Current ECT protocols are safe, with few contraindications. Common side effects include postictal confusion with both anterograde and retrograde amnesia; current administration techniques, such as unilateral electrode placement with a brief pulse, substantially reduce this risk, and cognitive symptoms typically resolve after
the completion of ECT. Persons with cardiovas- cular or neurologic disease are at increased risk for ECT-related memory problems.