Faculty Opinions recommendation of Continuation pharmacotherapy in the prevention of relapse following electroconvulsive therapy: a randomized controlled trial.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was developed in 1938 and is the oldest and best evaluated neuromodulation therapy for treatment-resistant depression. An electrical current is administered to the brain through the scalp. Seizures are induced under general anesthesia and muscle relaxation. Usually, a series of seizures (9-12) are given over several weeks, with generally 2-3 treatments per week. The mechanism of action is not understood, but the induction of a generalized seizure and the postictal suppression {1-6} are important factors for the antidepressant effect. This study, together with {7}, shows that ECT is highly effective in treatment-resistant depressive disorders, with 50-80% of patients achieving remission, and is therefore the most effective acute treatment for major depressive disorder {8,9}. This Recommendation is of an article referenced in an F1000 Faculty Review also written by Bettina Bewernick and Thomas E Schlaepfer.