Is Electro-Convulsive Therapy Medically Appropriate And Effective?

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 debate the appropriateness and effectiveness of this controversial form of treatment . . .