The authors review the use of ECT with nine seriously depressed patients
at the National Institute of Mental Health over the past 8 years. Despite
the patients' poor prior response to a variety of pharmacological
treatments, only one patient failed to show a complete response to ECT.
With most patients, improvement was quite rapid and dramatic, and all of
the ECT responders were free of depression for at least 1 year after
treatment. These results are consistent with previous studies; they deserve
reemphasis now in light of recent controversies over ECT, including
legislative and judicial attempts to restrict its use.Abstract Teaser