Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical procedure performed under general anesthesia in which electrical currents pass through the brain, inducing a brief, controlled seizure. It is the most effective treatment available for severe, treatment-resistant depression — with remission rates of 70–90% in resistant and psychotic depression, higher than any antidepressant.

Modern ECT is radically different from the way it's portrayed in horror movies. It is performed with general anesthesia, a muscle relaxant, and continuous monitoring. The patient is unconscious throughout the procedure. It typically involves 6–12 sessions (3 per week) for acute depression, with maintenance sessions afterward if needed.

Main side effects: transient confusion and short-term memory loss, usually resolving after treatment ends. Long-term memory loss is possible but uncommon. It is contraindicated in some cardiac and neurological conditions.

ECT is available at psychiatric hospitals and academic medical centers and, under professional medical guidelines, is generally reserved for severe, treatment-resistant, or life-threatening depression (including catatonia and psychosis) when other treatments have failed.