OPEN MINDS The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Pro & Con With the discovery of neuroleptics in the 1950s, the use of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) greatly diminished. But refinement of this procedure in recent years has convinced many therapists that ECT is an effective form of treatment - particularly for cases of severe depression. Yet, ECT remains controversial. Only about 2% of mentally ill patients are treated by ECT and, even then, only after traditional psychotherapy and drug treatment have proven ineffective. Though medical experts continue to . . .