Experts Provide Update on ECT Use

Experts in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) led a session today at APA’s 2015 annual meeting in Toronto to provide psychiatrists with an overview of the effectiveness and appropriate practices of using ECT for the treatment of mental disorders.

"ECT is a very effective treatment for certain populations with severe mental disorders," said session chair Peter Rosenquist, M.D., vice chair of psychiatry at Georgia Regents University, in an interview with Psychiatric News. Those severe mental disorders include major depressive disorder, psychosis, and dementia-related depression. ECT therapy is two to five times more effective than certain pharmacotheparies for the treatment of depression and psychosis, he noted.

Though ECT has been surrounded by decades of controversy, Rosenquist and other presenters told the audience that just like any other therapy, there are risk and benefits associated with ECT. "It is important for ECT practitioners—and those who refer patients for ECT—to really understand the nature of their patients’ illness to determine whether they are good candidates and healthy enough for ECT."

For an overview of the material discussed at the session, >>watch video