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ECT: the preferred treatment for severe depression in late life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2006

Alexandre Y. Dombrovski
Affiliation:
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, U.S.A. Email: dombrovskia@upmc.edu
Benoit H. Mulsant
Affiliation:
Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada Email: benoit_mulsant@camh.net

Extract

Older patients hospitalized with major depression in the U.S.A. are more likely to be treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) than younger patients (Olfson et al., 1998; Thompson et al., 1994). Concerns have been expressed that ECT may be “overused” in these older patients, who may be especially sensitive to its physical and cognitive adverse effects. We selectively review the evidence on this issue, addressing several questions that are important for clinicians who treat older depressed patients. While ECT is used in other geriatric syndromes (e.g., depression in Parkinson's disease, bipolar depression, etc.), we focus exclusively on non-bipolar major depression because there is almost no published evidence relevant to these other conditions.

Type
For Debate
Copyright
International Psychogeriatric Association 2006

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