When All Else Fails: The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Conditions Other than Major Depressive Episode

Peter B Rosenquist; Nagy A Youssef; Sandarsh Surya; William V McCall

doi:10.1016/j.psc.2018.04.002

When All Else Fails: The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Conditions Other than Major Depressive Episode

Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2018 Sep;41(3):355-371. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2018.04.002. Epub 2018 Jun 15.

Authors

Peter B Rosenquist¹, Nagy A Youssef², Sandarsh Surya², William V McCall²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. Electronic address: prosenquist@augusta.edu.
² Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.

PMID: 30098650
DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2018.04.002

Abstract

The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for those suffering from major depressive disorder is well-evidenced, time-honored, and recognized by most treatment guidelines. However, since its inception ECT has been used by practitioners for a broader range of neuropsychiatric conditions. This article reviews the highly variable evidence supporting the use of ECT in conditions other than depression, such as schizophrenia, bipolar manic states, catatonia, Parkinson disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Keywords: Bipolar disorder; Catatonia; Electroconvulsive therapy; Indications; Mania; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Schizophrenia.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Bipolar Disorder / therapy*
Catatonia / therapy*
Electroconvulsive Therapy / methods*
Humans
Schizophrenia / therapy*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*