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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a safe and effective treatment for major depression, has been more harshly criticized than any other psychiatric treatment. Despite widespread negative public opinion, clinical impressions that are supported by limited empirical data suggest that patients who benefit from ECT do not share these negative sentiments. This study surveyed attitudes toward ECT in 78 depressed inpatients, twice during hospitalization and at 6 months after discharge, using a semi-structured interview. Significantly more ECT-treated patients (n = 56) were favorable about ECT, compared to depressed patients (n = 22) never treated with ECT, both at pretreatment (chi square = 8.4, df = 1, p.01) and at post-treatment (chi square = 12.5, df = 1, p.01). Favorable attitudes were maintained after 6 months. ECT-treated patients, initially uncertain or negative about ECT, changed to a favorable attitude after completing treatment. Ninety-eight percent of ECT-treated patients said they would agree to ECT if they became depressed again.

The selection of an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) device from the more than 10 American-made models can be a difficult endeavor. This article is meant to be a single source of basic descriptions of these ECT devices. The information provided will allow the ECT clinician to be aware of the important issues involved in the selection of an ECT device and to become familiar with the basic features of each model.

Dexamethasone, compared to placebo in a double-blind study, failed to prevent the memory deficiency that typically accompanies electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (n = 48 patients treated for DSM-III diagnosed major depressive disorder). Rather, the administration of the drug was associated with attention (p less than 0.02) and short-term memory (p less than 0.0003) difficulties in both bilateral and unilateral ECT patients. Bilateral ECT plus dexamethasone patients had significantly less improvement (p less than 0.05) in their depression (measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale) compared to bilateral ECT plus placebo patients. These depression differences were not seen among unilateral ECT patients.

The Squire Self-rating Scale of Memory Function was administered to 28 depressed inpatients before and after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), with random assignment to bilateral or unilateral electrode placement. Several memory changes differentiated between bilateral and unilateral ECT following treatment (p less than 0.05). Memory complaints arising from ECT were distinguished from those due to depression.