Electroconvulsive therapy recommended for major depression

New guidelines proposed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) recommend that electroconvulsive therapy may be used to treat either major depressivedisorder or major depression in patients who don't respond to medications.

This is the first time the medical organization has ever updated its guidelines on the assessment and treatment of depression since 2000; the current guidelines are based on research conducted from 1999 through 2006.

The guidelines, which were drafted by a team led by psychiatrist Alan J. Gelenberg, say that the shock (and awe?) therapy may serve as therapy for patients with major depressive disorder who have a high degree of symptom severity; also implicated as possible “beneficiaries” of this type of therapy are those who do not respond to prescribed medications.

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