The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of Electroconvulsive Therapy: New Commentary From Canada

Out on PubMe, from a Canadian author, is this commentary:

The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Bahji A.J Psychiatr Pract. 2022 Nov 1;28(6):440-444. doi: 10.1097/PRA.0000000000000666.PMID: 36355582

The abstract is copied below:
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for depression. However, significant stigma from the media and the antipsychiatry movement has biased the public toward ECT, leading to underutilization, particularly among those most in need. This report reviews some of the key historical events in the rise, fall, and resurgence of ECT and how modern ECT knowledge and practice are more refined, including an improved understanding of its mechanisms of action and optimal treatment parameters.

The article is here.

And from the text:



This is an excellent, well-presented review/commentary on ECT. Lots of history, as well as a nice delineation the role of ECT in contemporary psychiatric medicine. One minor nit to pick: the assertion that succinylcholine was developed specifically for ECT does not seem quite accurate. Dr. Bahji has previously written about ECT for bipolar depression in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
I recommend a full read of this commentary to all health care workers involved in ECT; it is also worth considering it as a general review for non-psychiatric colleagues.




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