Revista Internacional de Saúde Mental e Psiquiatria

Developmental Appropriate Practice of Electroconvulsive Therapy with Major Depressive Patients: A Position Statement of the Applying ECT for the MDD

Abdallah Abu Khait, Sara Abu Rashaid

Applying of electroconvulsive therapy for psychiatric disorder is considered as controversial issue since development of the ECT in 1938. Major depression disorder affects millions of people every year and had several negative consequences on human suffering. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is still the most effective therapy for treatment of major depression and for cases that need a rapid clinical response. But there is practical and ethical limitations around using of ECT that appear from review the opponents and proponents of researchers and articles about it, the purpose of this position statement is to consolidate current knowledge of research and literatures into many fields of decisions for perform ECT with MDD, and its positive and negative effects on patients who experienced it. Early management and treatment for MDD is essential for quick decrease of MDD symptoms and help patients who suffer from this disorder to improve their quality of life. Based on this review paper, there was need for further research about all aspect about ECT to enhance the evidence base and fill gaps in this evidence.