Bulgarian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020; 5(4):10-13

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY AFTER MORE THAN 80 YEARS: STILL THE MOST EFFECTIVE THERAPY FOR SEVERE FORMS OF DEPRESSION

Georgi Kirov

MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics,
Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, UK

Abstract. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is still the most effective therapy for severe forms of depression and catatonia. Many treatments have been developed during the 80 years that have passed since its introduction but none approximates ECT in efficacy or in speed of action. This paper summarizes the efficacy of these treatments.

Key words: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), depression, catatonia

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