Electric shock therapy 'very effective'

There is a pressing need to improve electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to reduce side effects while maintaining its undoubted effectiveness, according to a leading psychiatry professor, Prof Declan McLoughlin of Trinity College Dublin.

With a view to developing the treatment further, Prof McLoughlin and a team of experts have started a trial comparing two different forms of ECT with a one year follow-up. Retrospective memory function, or the ability to recall previously established memories, will be a particular focus of the team.

About 1,000 patients are treated annually with ECT in Ireland and about one million are treated worldwide for severe treatment-resistant depression.

However, according to Prof McLoughlin, use of ECT is limited by stigma and genuine concerns about side-effects, especially on memory function. He stressed the need to understand the ‘molecular pathology’ underlying depression and dementia to develop rational treatments.

“Introduced over 70 years ago, ECT remains the most powerful treatment available for severe depression. Many advances have been made in ECT practice and understanding its mechanism of action,” he said.

According to Prof McLoughlin, results from other trials have confirmed the remarkable effectiveness of ECT for treating severe depression.

It is hoped that these studies will enable researchers to create a simple blood test to aid diagnosis and treatment of depression.

[Posted: Wed 03/06/2009]