Online Links to ECT News and Testimonials

Sutter Health sees positive results with electroconvulsive therapy for severe depression

David Bartley found relief in a treatment that is often misunderstood. It’s called ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy, and it is FDA-approved

ECT halves suicide percentage in first year after hospitalization for depression

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) was associated with a 50 percent reduction in risk for suicide among patients with depression in the year after their hospitalizations according to a new CAMH and ICES – led study of over 67,000 patients, published in the journal of The Lancet Psychiatry.

A critique of narrative reviews of the evidence-base for ECT in depression

There has been recent debate regarding the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of depression. This has been based on narrative reviews that contradict existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. In this special article, we highlight the mistakes that occur when interpreting evidence using narrative reviews, as opposed to conventional systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Despite the Stigma, ECT Remains a Gold Standard

Robert Ostroff, psychiatrist at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital: “ECT is the most effective treatment for treatment-resistant depression.

ECT Electroconvulsive Therapy - WVU Medicine Health Report

Electroconvulsive Therapy has a controversial reputation, but is now a simple inpatient or outpatient procedure. This brief video from West Virginia University illustrates how the procedure is conducted.

Gold Coast Health ECT Patients Video

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) involves a course of medical treatments for severe mental health conditions including major depression, bipolar disorder, and psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia. This video describes the treatment and includes patient interviews about its effects.

Dartmouth Hitchcock – Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Treating Severe Depression

This video presentations describes the modern use of ECT. In addition, several former patients are interviewed and describe the impact the treatment has had on their lives.

Changing the Image Problem of ECT

Dr. Alby Elias of the University of Melbourne argues that modern ECT bears little resemblance to how the procedure was performed in earlier decades. Including family members in the consent process and having them present during the procedure may help to reduce stigma and misconceptions.

Why Haven’t We Found a Better Name for Electroconvulsive Therapy?

This article is inspired by the comedian Gary Gulman who discusses his treatment with ECT in the HBO special, The Great Depresh. Gulman points out that the change of name to “electroconvulsive therapy” is hardly more reassuring than the original term “electroshock therapy.” In this article, ECT experts discuss why the procedure is so named.

An underused option for severe depression

A new study supports the use of noninvasive brain stimulation in people with severe depression who haven’t responded to medication. In particular, both ECT and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were found to be especially effective treatments.

A look at Electroconvulsive Therapy, an uncommon form of mental illness treatment

The conduct of ECT is demonstrated at the Brain Stimulation Center at Houston’s Menninger Clinic. It is stated that for major depression the remission rate is high as 90 percent, and the efficacy of ECT is far superior to that of antidepressant medications.

Electroconvulsive therapy can help patients with severe depression

This article is from the Killeen Daily Herald, a newspaper in Killeen, Texas. It is claimed that ECT is the most effective treatment available for severe depression unresponsive to other treatments. The conduct of ECT is briefly described as well as the fact that the stigma associated with the treatment is no longer justified.

Is Shock Therapy Returning for Bipolar Disorder?

In new research Italian investigators found that among bipolar patients who fail to respond to standard treatments, ECT can be a lifesaver, preventing out-of-control mood swings and dramatically lowering suicide risk.

Electroconvulsive Therapy is an Essential Procedure

The COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically affecting mental health and the treatment of psychiatric illness.

The pandemic proved ‘shock therapy’ is an essential treatment. Will Washington improve its availability?

During the pandemic, Dr. Anna Borisovskaya was treating a man who was so severely depressed that he required hospitalization.

Electroconvulsive Therapy Sheds Its Shocking Past

A psychiatry medical student discusses how even though ECT is the most effective treatment for patients struggling with treatment resistant depression, it is vastly underused.

ECT Helps a Young Raleigh Woman with her depression

One Triangle woman is crediting electroconvulsive therapy for helping curb her depression.

Risa Sugarman: A Case for Electroconvulsive Therapy

Risa Sugarman, a social worker, had tried medication after medication to combat her depression over a 20 year period, and medications were no longer effective. She describes her fear of ECT, and the remarkable improvement it produced.

Electroconvulsive Therapy is a Lifesaver

This article describes the use of ECT in a medical professional in his late 50’s who had exhausted all hope to continue living. He was found at the railing of the Golden Gate Bridge after he left a goodbye note for his family, saying that he was sorry. After failing to benefit from multiple medications, both the patient and his psychiatrist believe that ECT saved his life.

Electroconvulsive therapy most rapid, effective cure for ‘severe depression’ – Psychiatrist

According to a UK psychiatrist, Miriam Alexander, ECT the most rapid and effective treatment for severe depression. Dr. Alexander states that if she ever develops a severe depression ECT would be her preferred treatment strategy.

Mom suffering from PPD says electroconvulsive therapy "saved my life"

A young mother experiences severe post-partum depression after the birth of her second child. She believes that ECT saved her life.

Finding a Way Back from Suicide

A journey of recovery through electroconvulsive therapy.

Writer Donald Antrim Shares Raw Details of His Suicidal Illness to Help Others 'Trying to Stay Alive'

With a pair of successful novels already out in the world, Donald Antrim was named by The New Yorker in 1999 as one of the 20 best writers under age 40. Seven years later, it seemed that all he could write were suicide notes.

My Benefits from Electroconvulsive Therapy - What a Psychiatrist Learned from Being a Patient

Dr. Rebecca Barchas, a psychiatrist in Virginia, describes how ECT changed her life and allowed her to find healing for her depression.