Efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy in depressive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis (8 March 2003)

Summary

This article in The Lancet aimed to review published work about the efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with simulated ECT, ECT versus pharmacotherapy and different forms of ECT for patients with depressive illness. The authors designed a systematic overview and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. They concluded that:

• ECT is an effective short-term treatment for depression, and is probably more effective than drug therapy.
• bilateral ECT is moderately more effective than unilateral ECT.
• high dose ECT is more effective than low dose.