ECT Rx in depression

Q: In major severe depression, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the last resort in therapy, but its effectiveness lies in no further relapse.

A) True

B) False

Answer: B

Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for severe major depression, unfortunately, the relapse rate is high. Also, it is not very popular due to social stigma, safety risks, adverse effects, and logistical constraints. 

#psychiatry

#procedure

References:

1. UK ECT Review Group. Efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy in depressive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2003; 361:799.

2.  Pagnin D, de Queiroz V, Pini S, Cassano GB. Efficacy of ECT in depression: a meta-analytic review. J ECT 2004; 20:13.

3. Kellner CH, Knapp RG, Petrides G, et al. Continuation electroconvulsive therapy vs pharmacotherapy for relapse prevention in major depression: a multisite study from the Consortium for Research in Electroconvulsive Therapy (CORE). Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006; 63:1337.