Electroconvulsive therapy in the very old.
At least one study has questioned the safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the very old. In this study, the authors reviewed a 5-year experience with ECT at two university psychiatric services for patients 75 years of age or older. Both outcomes and complications were reviewed. Nineteen of 22 patients (86.3%) were ECT responders. Five patients (22.7%) suffered complications which varied from minor to substantial. ECT was found to be an effective and reasonably safe treatment for depression in the very old.
Casey
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University of Louisville, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Edward E. Landis Geriatric Psychiatry Center, Norton Hospital, KY, USA.
Davis
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome