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Related Concept Videos

Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
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Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

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Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
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Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
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Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

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Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
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Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

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In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
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Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

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Current electroconvulsive therapy practice and research in the geriatric population.

Nancy Kerner1, Joan Prudic1

  • 1Electroconvulsive Therapy Service & the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, & the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Neuropsychiatry
|April 30, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective and rapid treatment for severe psychiatric disorders, especially in elderly patients. It offers a safe and life-saving option when medications are ineffective or risky, even with co-occurring organic conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a globally recognized treatment for severe and treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions.
  • Elderly patients with depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis often find ECT to be the most effective and rapid therapeutic option.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy and safety of ECT in various psychiatric disorders, particularly in the elderly population.
  • To highlight ECT's role in managing complex cases, including those with intractable catatonia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and organic comorbidities.
  • To explore future research directions for ECT as a synergistic therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research studies on electroconvulsive therapy.
  • Analysis of ECT's effectiveness in elderly patients with depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.
  • Evaluation of ECT's safety profile in patients with medication intolerance or high risk of toxicity.

Main Results:

  • ECT is demonstrated as the most effective and rapid treatment for elderly patients with depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.
  • ECT is a life-saving intervention for intractable catatonia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
  • ECT is a safe alternative for elderly patients who cannot tolerate medications or are at high risk for adverse drug effects, proving efficacious even with co-occurring organic conditions like parkinsonism, dementia, and stroke.

Conclusions:

  • Electroconvulsive therapy remains a critical intervention for severe psychiatric disorders, offering significant benefits for elderly patients.
  • ECT provides a safe and effective treatment avenue for patients with complex conditions and medication-related challenges.
  • Future research should investigate ECT's potential as an adjunct therapy to enhance other treatments and prevent relapse.