What does this rating mean?
In electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), an electric current is passed through the brain to produce a brief seizure. The current can be given to one or both sides of the brain.
ECT is given when a person is under general anaesthetic. Muscle relaxant medication is also used, so that the person’s body does not show the jerky movements usually seen in an epileptic seizure. ECT treatment is given by specialist doctors in hospitals.
ECT treatment varies in different countries. In Australia, ECT is usually given from one to three times a week. A course of ECT involves 8-12 treatments on average.
After a successful course of ECT, further treatment is usually given to maintain the improvement and to help prevent relapse. The person may then have further sessions of ECT, medication or psychological treatment.
ECT is mainly used for people who are severely affected by depression or other psychiatric disorders. It can be used for people who can’t take medication for health reasons. It can work very quickly and may help when other treatments have not worked.
ECT causes physical and chemical changes in the brain but it is not clear how ECT works to relieve depression.
ECT can be effective for severely depressed people who have not responded to other treatments such as antidepressant medications.
Studies have compared ECT to sham ECT. In sham ECT, participants are placed under general anaesthetic but do not receive ECT. Overall, real ECT produced better results than sham ECT, at least in the short term. Studies have also found that ECT is more effective than some antidepressant medication and transcranial magnetic stimulation in the short term.
Some experts argue that the research on ECT and depression is of poor quality and that the risks of using ECT for depression are too high. More research is needed on the long-term effectiveness of ECT.
ECT is usually only used for people with severe depression. There has been little research on ECT for people with mild or moderate depression.
ECT can cause memory problems, such as losing memory of past events or problems in forming new memories. Research suggests that memory problems may affect at least a third of people who receive ECT. There is conflicting evidence as to how long these memory problems last. Some researchers say it occurs only immediately following treatment. Other researchers say it can last a few weeks and some say it can be permanent.
Some people experience short term side effects like headaches, muscles aches or nausea. Less commonly, ECT may cause serious physical problems and even death. Some of these risks are due to the need to have a general anaesthetic and muscle relaxant medications.
People having ECT may also experience emotional distress related to the stigma and controversy that still surrounds this treatment.
ECT is delivered by a medical practitioner in a hospital setting. It is supervised by a psychiatrist who has special training and accreditation to perform ECT. If you are interested in ECT you should talk to your GP or other mental health care provider.
ECT is an effective treatment for severe depression in the short term. Given its disadvantages, it may be most useful where a fast improvement is needed, such as where:
Last reviewed and updated: 24 April 2023
These treatments are very useful. They are strongly supported as effective by scientific evidence.
These treatments are promising and may be useful. They have some evidence to support them, but more evidence is needed to be sure they work.
These treatments have not been properly researched. It is not possible to say whether they are useful or not.