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The Role of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Treatment of Depressive Illness in Old Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Susan M. Benbow
Susan M. Benbow*
Affiliation:
York House, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9BX
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Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy is an important treatment in the depressive states of late life, and there is general agreement about the indications for its use in old age psychiatry. Indeed, old age may be associated with a better response to ECT than that in younger age groups. The additional risk involved through physical problems in the elderly is not great when compared with that of continuing depression and of the side-effects of alternative treatments. Temporary memory disorders and confusion may occur, but are minimised if unilateral electrode placement is used. Some patients treated with unilateral ECT do not respond, but will respond to bilateral treatment. Anxiety over unwanted treatment effects, which can lead to ineffective treatment of depressive illness, must be outweighed by knowledge of the dangers of leaving depression untreated in old age.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 155 , Issue 2 , August 1989 , pp. 147 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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